Why It’s Wrong to Blame ‘Humanity’ in the Abstract for Climate Change, w/ Justin Podur

It’s widely accepted that humans are driving climate change and environmentalism has become mainstream. But what if “humanity” in the abstract isn’t to blame? Is it true that humans are inherently bad for nature? What if the real culprit is the systems we’re forced to operate under — capitalism, imperialism, colonialism— perpetrated by particular sections of humanity over others?

So who, or what is to blame is really to blame for climate change? What are the limitations of the mainstream environmental movements? What’s the actual solution? And where do indigenous communities and decolonization fit in?

To discuss this and more, Rania Khalek was joined by Justin Podur, a Professor at York University in Toronto, author of many books including Extraordinary Threat, Haiti’s New Dictatorship, America’s Wars on Democracy in Rwanda and the DR Congo, and Siegebreakers and host of the Anti-Empire Project podcast.