Title: 2050 Anthropology of Climate Change: Praxis
Date: 11/23/2024 08:30 AM-10:00 AM, TCC 121
Roundtable/Town Hall – In-Person
Anthropologists engage in immersive fieldwork with local communities to explore the intricate web of nature-cultures and human-other-than-human relationships, focusing on the challenges that shape them. Speakers on this roundtable situate their research within the context of climate change, examining both its impacts and the responses it elicits, as well as the burgeoning climate
justice movements it inspires. Anthropologists work alongside communities on the frontlines of climate change. Through intimate
place-based research, we develop a deep understanding of the interplay between environmental shifts and human societies, paying attention to the intersectionality of culture, economies, risk, and vulnerabilities. This approach recognizes that climate change does not operate in isolation but intersects with other forms of inequality, such as racism and sexism. In response, anthropologists actively engage in decolonizing methodologies and knowledge production, challenging dominant narratives and power structures that perpetuate injustice. By centering Indigenous knowledge systems and amplifying marginalized voices, anthropology as a discipline can help facilitate more inclusive and participatory decision-making processes. Such a decolonial approach not only enriches anthropological research but also has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of climate resilience and justice initiatives by ensuring that they are grounded in local realities and informed by diverse perspectives. Anthropologists can play a crucial role in informing regional policies and initiatives by collaborating with policymakers and stakeholders. This is an opportunity to translate findings from long term ethnographic fieldwork into actionable recommendations that prioritize equity and justice. This roundtable asks anthropologists to critically consider (i) in what ways , anthropologists can be at the forefront of efforts to address climate change; (ii) how can
anthropologists leverage our unique blend of research, advocacy, and collaboration to support and care for the peoples, places, and communities affected by multidimensional environmental challenges? How, and in what ways, can we decolonize our methods to work for environmental justice and a more equitable and sustainable future for all? This roundtable delves into the multifaceted role of anthropologists in addressing climate change, from grassroots engagement to informing regional policies, while emphasizing the importance of decolonizing methodologies and knowledge production in fostering equitable transitions and
advancing climate justice.
Sponsored by : Anthropology and Environment Society and organized by the Climate Change Interest Group
Organizer: Emily Hite, Saint Louis University, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Discussant: Adam Fleischmann, McGill University, Department of Anthropology,
Roundtable Participants:
Sarah Strauss, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Raka Sen, Arizona State University
Steven Schwartz, Boston University
Amanda Harvey-Sánchez
Anna Willow, The Ohio State, Department of Anthropology