Book Review: The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas

Book Review by Tania Roa

In ‘The Intersectional Environmentalist,’ Leah Thomas gets right to the point: the mainstream environmental movement that gained momentum in the United States on the first Earth Day in 1970 is not inclusive or diverse. The movement has prioritized the voices of white, wealthy individuals while excluding the stories of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQIA+, and the Global South. Environmental education in academia and the efforts of large environmental organizations prioritize the conservation of wild spaces and the protection of wild and domestic animals. Meanwhile, marginalized human populations deal with fatal illnesses, unsafe working conditions, minimal access to a clean environment, and a consequential decrease in well-being at disproportionate rates due to environmental injustices. If our goal is to design a world that works for all - all people and all other living things - then this needs to change. Without adequate representation, equal access to resources, and reparations, we will remain in the current exploitative systems that categorize the majority of people as expendable.

This book is a deeper dive into the resources found on the IE (Intersectional Environmentalist) website and social media platforms, yet it still is an introduction to the myriad of topics related to climate and environmental justice including the disproportionate impacts of air pollution, water contamination, heat island effects, and food apartheid. The well-being of the privileged few is in direct correlation to degraded lands, soil, and waterways that predominantly exist in proximity to disenfranchised communities. The message is clear: the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of experiencing nature and the outdoors should not be for everyone.

Throughout the book, Thomas features a wide range of inspiring environmental justice advocates, demonstrating the importance of community in this movement. By sharing her platform, Thomas ensures that different underserved communities are heard. She also provides a useful toolkit filled with further resources. Through further reading, environmentalists can learn about other environmental justice topics not covered in this book, such as the impact of industrial agriculture on workers and nearby communities. With its accessible features and powerful storytelling, Intersectional Environmentalist encourages readers to dive deeper into antiracism, expand our definition of environmentalism, and find joy in the solutions that benefit us all. 

To truly transform our world, to create societies that prioritize people over profit and peace and rest over forced labor and exploitation, we need to listen to, amplify, and support frontline communities who endure the most frequent and severe impacts of the climate crisis. To dismantle the systems that perpetuate arbitrary hierarchies, and that harm people and planet, we need to all work together. Marginalized communities have organized and mobilized for decades, even centuries. Many BIPOC and queer communities emphasize the human connection to nature in their teachings and traditions. They now need allies to join in their efforts. The climate emergency is a global issue that requires a global solution. When we each work in our communities and uplift the work of other communities, our local efforts add up to worldwide change. 

We cannot achieve social, racial, or gender justice without addressing environmental and climate injustices. Total liberation includes all the above. That is why intersectionality, a term coined by American civil rights advocate and leading scholar of critical race theory Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, is a lens everyone in environmental spaces should adopt. As Thomas points out, this mindset shifts how we talk about topics ranging from fashion to renewable energy. By first recognizing the communities we are a part of, and how our identity is formed by race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, and more, we can determine our role in the intersectional environmental movement.

We each have a role in implementing climate solutions and designing a world that appreciates all of us. Find yours, and let’s start redefining what it means to be an environmentalist.

Tania roa

Tania is the Digital Communications Manager at Biodiversity for a Livable Climate, an environmental nonprofit that spreads awareness for the powerful potential of ecosystem restoration in climate change mitigation efforts. She is the co-founder and co-host of Closing the Gap, a social justice podcast that shares stories on the connections between today's global crises and their solutions. Tania graduated from Tufts University with a Master of Science in Animals and Public Policy, and through her writing and nature photography she emphasizes the importance of protecting both people and the planet. She loves to snorkel, hike, and travel.

Instagram: @nature_tania

Twitter: @tierra_tania