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We went to the Natural History Museum’s Generation Hope: Act for the Planet event to highlight both the anti-imperialist climate justice activist’s and the entomologist’s insights on the climate crisis and how we can drive positive change for the Earth’s future.
Mitzi Jonelle Tan is an environmental justice activist from the Philippines. She is the convenor and international spokesperson of YACAP and an organiser with Fridays For Future MAPA. Her mission is to expose the multifaceted nature of the ecological emergency and guarantee that voices from the Global South in particular are heard, amplified, and given space. A strong voice on anti-imperialism, anti-colonisation, and the intersectionality of the climate crisis, she is committed to changing the system and building a world that prioritises people and planet, not profit, through collective action.
Entomologist Dr Erica McAlister has been working at the Natural History Museum for over twelve years. She is the principal curator for flies and fleas (Diptera and Siphonaptera) and a huge advocate for insects and their role in biodiversity. ‘We’ve got one planet and I love it,’ she tells Thred. ‘So, I’m very much concerned with trying to communicate how we can do better to look after it.’
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Thred: It’s almost been a year since we last spoke at Generation Hope’s launch event. What wins has activism or climate science seen in that time? What losses?
Mitzi: One of the biggest wins has to be the finalisation of the Loss and Damage fund at COP28. We’ve also seen the movement evolve to target banks and corporations in a much more strategic way.
I think activism has matured a lot.
Plus, more and more young people are working closely with communities, especially in the Global North, which wasn’t the case a few years ago.
Erica: We’re seeing governments pay attention to what people are saying a lot more. In the UK, we’ve now got select committees that listen to the evidence we’re bringing forth and supporting.
We finally feel like they’re paying attention to the things we’ve been shouting about for decades.
Thred: During those twelve months, a lot happened. What are some new ways in which we can be waking people up to the severity of this? How can we remain hopeful?
Mitzi: It isn’t necessarily new, but it’s still effective:
Find ways to communicate the climate crisis in a way that connects it to people and helps them to recognise that what they’re feeling isn’t wrong.
Connect with them in a way that gets them to join the movement from a place of empowerment because then they know they aren’t alone in doing so. Another thing that’s really effective is the involvement of arts and culture in the movement. We haven’t really tapped into this audience all that much and I think it’s a really good means of expanding our reach. Using creativity to educate
on these issues can encourage people who might have otherwise turned a blind eye to listen.
Erica: Technology! Use your phone to take pictures, to record things, to help science by sharing all of these small bits of data that raise awareness. It’s never been easier to get the message across. We’re a connected mass and communicating this virtually is important because we all have a part to play.
Thred: Another UN climate change conference also took place. What are your thoughts on the outcomes from COP28? Specifically, do you think the agreement on a ‘loss and damage’ fund to compensate poor states for the ever-worsening repercussions of climate change went far enough?
Mitzi: The money pledged didn’t go far enough. The money that governments are funnelling into fossil fuel subsidies is still so much more than what went into the loss and damage fund. Priorities are clear. There’s also the question of whether it will actually be given to vulnerable people, those most affected by the crisis. How do we ensure that the money flows in that direction? Why was this landmark victory tainted by loopholes and empty promises? Yes, they called for a just and equitable fossil fuel phase-out, but they followed up with a lot of false solutions. With this in mind, this year we’re keen to keep an eye on this, to guarantee that we get the best possible outcome, and to hold people accountable for delaying progress. We want to see the improved inclusion of indigenous communities and women in these spaces and in the policymaking processes as well.
Thred: The science is clear – we need urgent and effective action to reduce the growing threats against biodiversity and the health of current and future generations. However, many industries (primarily coal, oil, and gas) spend time and money trying to cast doubt on research examining the climate crisis. What strategies have been used to mislead the public and what is the impact of these narratives? And, how can we educate ourselves on environmental disinformation and address this problem to stop it from delaying progress any more than it already has?
Erica: This is a tactic that’s been deployed for a long time. It’s always been ‘distract, distract, distract.’ We need to be assessing how we investigate this and interrogate the language – the ‘facts’ that are being distributed. We need to figure out the truth. Science is messy sometimes and you can see how people manage to get away with it by fudging information and using it to their own advantage. We need to provide people with the tools to recognise when something is incorrect or wrong.
Mitzi: A key example of this is how the fossil fuel industry coined the term ‘carbon footprint’ to shift the blame from them and onto the individual. To make us think we’re the ones at fault and that we should feel guilty. This leaves us feeling helpless because addressing this alone is an impossible task, it’s neither accessible nor affordable. It’s gone from outright denial to greenwashing. This was visible at COP28, where they twisted the narrative to make it seem like they were trying as they continued to push their plans for oil expansion. They say one thing and do another. It’s exhausting.
Erica: As humans, we’re very trusting and as a result have accepted these lies without realising we’re being manipulated. We have to pause, investigate further, and regain our power as consumers. It’s about being curious. So curious that you keep asking until you’ve peeled back the layers of deceit.
