Inclusive Environmentalism
What is inclusive environmentalism?
Inclusive environmentalism (aka intersectional or accessible environmentalism) is much like other intersectional movements. Essentially, this movement seeks to make environmentalism more inclusive of marginalized communities, and to better recognize the efforts marginalized people are already doing.
Making environmentalism more inclusive means changing how we view a āgoodā environmentalist. It also means changing how we talk about and portray environmental efforts. Being cognizant of how other communities or individuals handle environmentalism is important too, as there is no one-size-fits-all environmental effort for any country, community, or person.
The world is just too big and too complex to make any effort apply to everyone. Elitism is a very real issue in environmentalism. A āgoodā environmentalist is often portrayed as an upper-middle to upper-class white, western, fully able-bodied person. Many environmental efforts are inaccessible for many people, and the current, trendy version of environmentalism, conservation, and sustainability (often used interchangeably) are not effective or ethical at all.
We are all scared for the future of the world. However, putting others down or holding yourself up for any environmental effort is not effective. We also know, from a research-based standpoint, that certain environmental efforts (for example veganism, or organic-cotton everything) are not actually environmentally-friendly if applied to everyone in the worldāor even one country. The movement as it is now is ineffective.
What does that mean for the environmental movement?Ā
Iām not saying participating in environmental efforts is bad. Iām not saying youāre a bad person if you ask people around you to participate, or if youāve been non inclusive in the past. In order to be more effective in our environmentalism, we need toāfor people and for the planetābe cognizant of other people. We need to understand that not everyone can use silicone straws, or go vegan, or get solar panels. Nearly every effort, if not all of them, will be impossible for one or more communities.
What can I do to be more inclusive?
1. The first step is to recognize your privilege.
Can you afford silicone alternatives to plastic?
Do you have an organic store or farmerās market near you (that you can go to without missing work)?
Do you have a fully-abled body and donāt have issues with energy?
These are all examples of privilege in the environmental movementāthough this is not an exhaustive list.
2.Ā Change how you view the movement.
Yes, things are dire. But putting your focus on nitpicking your neighbor, or only uplifting āgoodā environmentalists, or counting your āsinsā is a waste of time.
Talk to people in marginalized communities and learn how they participate in environmentalism.
Read beyond your Instagram feed or Tumblr.
Look at whoās producing the most waste and CO2.
Listen to and read from actual scientists (I see you bloggers/Instagramers, just because you read or saw one or a few things labeled as āenvironmentally friendlyā doesnāt mean itās an actual science-backed effort. Weāre actually researching this stuff because we know what to look for!)
3.Ā Make your language more inclusive.
How are you sharing your āeco-friendlyā tips?
Are you using phrases like āeveryone canā¦ā, āif you just do x or save y amount of money, you canā¦ā, āwhy doesnāt everyoneā¦ā, etc?
Consider how someone who can barely afford their groceries, or who has mobility issues, or who has very little energy, or who works multiple jobs could participate in your effort.
Inclusive Environmentalism: Keeping Change AccessibleĀ
From elite wildlife-ism and ecosystem service jugglery to an inclusive environmentalismĀ Ā (click on āread full textā, to download you need to be a member but reading it on the website is free)
Making environmentalism inclusive is essential. Without an inclusive movement, we cannot make a safe, equitable, and healthy world. Fighting each other and our allies will just keep us from progressing the movement and making any meaningful change. Our world is so complex, with so many ecosystems and societies and governments, there is no formula or silver bullet to make the world eco-friendly. Itās not easy, and itās not easy to sell, but itās the truth.Ā
Working together is the only way we can do this. Support each other and include each other!
*edited for coding mishap
