Modern Environmentalism Isn’t Sated by Biden
How to Navigate This Next Era of Activism
by Kylie Fuller
Climate change activism has transformed in recent years and embraced a holistic approach to environmental protection. How can you contribute to this modern vision?
Since January, environmentalists have celebrated a series of climate wins after four years of repeated losses: the U.S. rejoined the Paris agreement, the Keystone XL pipeline stopped construction, and the Biden administration pledged to decrease U.S. emissions by 50% within the decade.
But the excitement is fading as Biden’s pro-environment promises fail to actualize and his silence on key issues (i.e. Line 3) grows louder. Biden’s proposed climate policies only scratch the surface of what needs to be done in the next decade. Electric cars, reusable energy, and carbon-capture technology are an integral part of any climate policy, but these are relics of environmental debates from decades past. While any environmentalist can celebrate the fact that an U.S. administration is finally listening to what scientists have been saying for eons, running a decade behind on climate policy is not an option. Unfortunately, the lag between administrations’ policies and environmentalists’ demands is increasingly evident.
Biden’s approach to climate change − or more aptly, his silence on key issues and continued support for green capitalism − does not align with the climate change movement’s modern direction, which focuses on holistic solutions and dismantling unsustainable, oppressive systems. Green capitalism assumes capitalism and environmental conservation are compatible and uses capitalist strategies (carbon tax, showcasing “eco-friendly” materials despite uncurbed pollution, etc.) to encourage green behavior. But a system that relies on excessive consumption and oppressive power dynamics is inherently unsustainable. In other words, green capitalism (as history demonstrates) does not work and has no place in the future of environmentalism.
But what is the future of environmentalism? And how can we contribute?
While many of us are clear of what is not working and recognize the need for systemic change, determining how to contribute to the environmental movement is more ambiguous − especially when we know one person’s actions cannot save the planet, but mainstream environmentalism still largely emphasizes individual action. How can individuals contribute to modern environmentalism?
Ariel Green, host of the Sustainable Brown Girl podcast, emphasizes education and community engagement. “Although the idea of sustainability and the changing climate has gained traction over the last few years, it's important for us to continue spreading the word and getting involved within our communities to make a difference,” said Green. “I'm constantly educating myself [about] environmental and political issues and learning from people who are involved in related fields.”
Education, individually and collectively, is arguably the most essential element of any eco-activism.
Anyone looking to move beyond the environmentalism of days past and contribute to modern environmentalism must prioritize education: What systems caused climate change? What systems can stop climate change? What communities are being primarily affected by climate change and involuntarily placed on the front lines? Knowing the basic elements of climate change, how we’ve tried to mitigate climate change, and proposed solutions can go a long way for all environmental enthusiasts.
“Activists and supporters alike can contribute to the future that I envision for environmentalism by immersing themselves in a holistic understanding of ecosystems, earth processes, and important policy. I think it is so important to have at least a basic understanding of climate science in order to better inform our support (or lack thereof) of certain policies and plans,” said Zahra Biabani, sustainability consultant and creator of the Soulful Seeds blog. “This material should indeed be taught to children in school, but the education system fails to present this information to kids.”
But understanding climate science and policy is not the hallmark of an environmentalist’s education. Rather, it is learning how people have experienced climate change.
“If we are going to begin to undo the environmental and ecological damage that has been caused by capitalism, it is essential that we look to those who have been living harmoniously with the earth for answers,” said Biabani. “One example of this is the understanding of prescribed burnings. The government cracked down on the traditional practice of burning forest fuel load and deemed it as harmful, even though Indigenous communities have been doing so on a yearly basis for centuries. Now that the wildfire seasons are getting more extreme, governments are revisiting the concept of prescribed burnings as a way to actually reduce the severity of wildfires.”
Shifting the emphasis from the individual to the collective requires us to critically look at what how all communities are contributing to, suffering from, and experiencing climate change. This process also asks us to unlearn old narratives about climate change, which may require going back in time.
“By unlearning what we have been taught about our relationship with the earth and relearning about ways in which communities have been living with the land, we are better situated to support policies that protect the planet and its people. The future of environmentalism is actually going to channel practices of the ‘past’, including an appreciation of Indigenous traditions and pre-Industrial Revolution ways of interacting with the land.”
As important as education is, it is equally important to use that knowledge. Community is integral to solving climate change because climate change can only be solved via collective action. If education is the first step, then deliberate conversation is the second.
Constructive conversation is how we turn collective knowledge into collective action.
For years, the narrative surrounding climate change focused on recycling and reducing plastic waste, which are great but are ridiculously small drops in a massive bucket. One of the easiest things we can do is dispel the myth that individuals are responsible for stopping climate change and emphasize how we can use larger systems for environmental protection. “Activists and supporters should be having discussions with family members and friends, encouraging them to vote for politicians who support initiatives like the Green New Deal, buying from sustainable businesses, and developing eco-friendly practices in their everyday lives,” said Green.
But conversations are not exclusively about informing others. We should also be engaging in conversations that work towards innovative solutions, shed light on alternative perspectives of climate change, and ease our eco-anxieties. Whether it be sharing sustainable swaps with family, discussing global perspectives on climate change with friends, or debating the pros and cons of various policies with colleagues, open and constructive conversation builds community in the era of climate change.
Education and conversation are critical, but what comes next?
If systemic exploitation of the environment and its people is the problem, then participating in sustainable community efforts and investing in collective resources is the solution.
This can manifest as myriad actions: participating in community gardens, joining a co-op, redistributing wealth and resources to communities at the frontlines of climate change, amplifying marginalizes voices, donating to organizations that support community-oriented programs, and supporting circular and locally owned businesses. And, of course, constantly learning and listening.
Environmentalism has undergone many transitions. But whether it be reuse, reduce, recycle or banning single use plastics, mainstream environmentalism always emphasized the responsibility of the individual consumer (despite Indigenous wisdom and early intersectional thinkers like Dr. Robert Bullard). However, modern environmentalism is experiencing another transformation, and the power of the collective is being mobilized. While it is critical to continue recycling and reducing waste, we are much more effective offering our support to the collective than we are acting in isolation.