From hothouse to hot tub: climate privilege 101
Photography by Markus Spiske
In the midst of so-called ‘Protest Culture’, Zuzana Galova explores ideas of privilege, paradox, and how wielding a placard comes with its own set of responsibilities.
In present times, events rarely escape the paradox of global news: the most important topics are often most overlooked, and vice versa. While articles about Greta Thunberg and world-wide student climate strikes keep piling up, so too does the denial, rejection, and critique of young people taking a stand for the future. This paradox isn’t contained to the BBC, either. I argue that living in a first world country means that the pressure to take action, however overwhelming it might feel at times, is in fact a privilege, which we must learn to recognise.
But why are we so lucky in the face of climate catastrophe?
I began asking around, and noticed a trend. On talking to friends and strangers about privilege, 9 out of 10 times the first response is negative. People don’t want to be associated with it, as if it is offensive. The term ‘privilege’ has come to be synonymous with a carefree lifestyle full of indulgence, excess, and ‘self-care Sundays’. However, when it comes down to the basics, ‘privilege’ is just an advantage in the face of a problem — any problem, from access and education to the gender pay-gap and climate change. Privilege shields us from the impact of these issues. Unfortunately, this shield can be a little too effective, preventing us from recognising the severity of the problem because we are never personally exposed to it. Does this mean that the UK will not feel the impact of climate change? No. Does it mean that we are protected from some of the most severe impacts of the upcoming climate catastrophe? Absolutely.
Perhaps the greatest injustice of the upcoming climate catastrophe is that the people who cause the crisis are spared the suffering it causes. Historically, the UK is responsible for releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere than any other country, yet droughts and food shortages are far from the forefront of collective British concerns. It is the less privileged communities who are facing the worst effects. Most people don’t realise that climate change affects people on many more levels than increased temperatures and irregular snowfall. "We are in a climate emergency which demands urgent action. We are also in the midst of a refugee crisis. The two are inextricably linked,” explains activist Rumana Hashem, member of Phulbari Solidarity Group and the EJB. In 2017, over eighteen million people were forced to flee their home and relocate due to a natural disaster. To underline the point, this constitutes over 60 percent of global displacements that year. The estimate is that by 2050, between 150 and 200 million people will become what we call “climate refugees”, fleeing desertification, rising sea levels, and extreme weather conditions. In more tangible terms: 1 in every 45 people in the world will have been displaced as a result of changing climate.
The privilege to fight climate change from the comfort of our slightly warmer homes is just the tip of a melting iceberg. Student protests led by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg are another example of environmental privilege we overlook. Though taking on a role of climate activist is admirable and challenging, it is the ability to do so publicly and without immediate physical threat that makes her lucky. To put this in perspective: in Egypt you get seven years in jail for protesting; in Iran the punishment for protesting is death by stoning; in China, you will receive travel restrictions.
At this point, it is accepted that not taking any action is denial. However, it is inaction on the grounds that ‘it’s not happening to me’ that best represents privilege in action, and has a serious impact on the lives of others. We are leading the cause, yet we evade the responsibility of the effect: sleeping soundly every night, in comfortable homes, safe from floods and hurricanes, unbothered by the eminent presence of catastrophe. The time to act is now.
Pi Opinion content does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial team, Pi Media society, Students’ Union UCL or University College London. We aim to publish opinions from across the student body - if you read anything you would like to respond to, get in touch via email.