Is Climate Colonial?

This panel discussion takes colonialism as the origin of climate change. It contextualises the relationship between racism and the climate crisis, looking at how environmental injustices disproportionately burden marginalised communities, especially women, trans* and inter-positioned people in the so-called Global South. Representatives from the Berlin-based organisation Black Earth Collective and activist Jeff Kwasi Klein, together with the Gropius Bau’s Outreach Coordinator Sophya Kallista Frohberg, discuss an intersectional approach to draft counter-proposals that might prevent further social injustices that are caused by climate change.

The BlackEarth Collective is a BIPOC group in Berlin primarily represented by female identifying, lesbian, non binary and trans* people. It understands anthropogenic climate change as a historical development, starting with slavery and colonialism and as a prerequisite for European industrialisation. The collective advocates for an intersectional climate movement, with decolonial, queer-feminist and ecological perspectives.

Tatu Hey is a member of the Black Earth Collective. Next to climate justice, an interest of hers is to take on a critical perspective on “development aid”. She seeks to highlight the actual impact that this industry has on BIPOC and marginalised people, the environment and climate.

Nene Opoku was born in Berlin and is a member of the Black Earth Collective. Her interests include postcolonial theory and anti-Semitism research. She also examines constructions of inequality from historically comparative perspectives.

Jeff Kwasi Klein is a project manager at Each One Teach One e.V. and board member of the migrant council Berlin, where he represents a variety of (post-) migrant organisations. At that, he is a member of Germany’s Green Party, where he is also a board member of Berlin-Mitte’s district chapter.

Sophya Kallista Frohberg is Outreach Coordinator at the Gropius Bau, where she is currently coordinating the public programme for the upcoming Zanele Muholi exhibition. Her practice centres on the visibility of Black and queer contemporary art, as well as decolonial practices and climate justice in institutions.