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What is intersectional environmentalism?

Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead as I hastily grabbed the air-conditioner remote. The intense, insidious afternoon heat coerced me to switch on my life-saving device; a contented sigh of relief escaped my lips as I relished in the chilly blast of air. While I am sure that the majority of us conveniently ramp up the air-conditioner when the heat becomes unbearable for us, there is a particular group of people who are unfortunately not able to cool themselves down so easily.



This common phenomenon succinctly encapsulates the idea of "intersectional environmentalism". Founded by Leah Thomas after she was exposed to the horrors of the murder of George Flyod, it is defined as the intersection of social justice and environmentalism. It is an inclusive version of environmentalism that sheds light on the injustice marginalised communities are facing in the midst of global warming. Examples include women, LGBTQ+ individuals, indigenous people and the black community who have limited access to clean air, natural spaces and water. They are also more likely to live in poorly-maintained areas that are exposed to environmental hazards such as toxic fumes from factories.


Despite Singapore's renowned strongly knitted social fabric and meritocracy-based system, our little red dot is not spared from the mercy of injustice that stems from climate change as well as lack of emphasis by the government. Let's find out more about the challenges low-income communities in Singapore face in this era of climate change.


Air-conditioning has become such a prevalent necessity for most of us; but did you know that less than 20% of two-room apartments have air-conditioners installed? Such residents have no choice but to turn to other alternatives to cool themselves down - if you guessed taking more frequent showers, you are absolutely right! A study conducted by Professor Alberto Salvo at the National University of Singapore stated that a 1 degree celsius rise in temperatures can result in the average household living in a two-room unit to increase its water usage by 9 litres per day. Unfortunately, this translates to additional financial burden for low-income households as well as the rapid depletion of national water supply. Can you imagine how uncomfortable such households will feel under the sweltering tropical heat? Although global warming affects everyone, the impact on financially disadvantaged communities is more severe due to their inability to purchase air-conditions that cool them down. On a more serious note, the risks of heat stroke and extreme fatigue will be much higher; this is why more needs to be done to assist this vulnerable community.


Running late? Thursday Thunderstorms? Humid Heat? Taxis have proven to be a knight in shining armour, especially for working adults. For taxi drivers, cars are a necessity for them, a medium to make a living and bring convenience to Singaporeans. Thus, it was a massive shock for them when Budget 2021 announced that Singapore Green Plan 2030 included a petrol duty hike, with prices increased by 10 cents per litre for intermediate grade petrol, to mitigate the issue of high carbon emissions from vehicles. When interviewed, drivers expressed their dissatisfaction, saying that they have to shell out an additional $60 to $100 per month. This unfortunately leads to a smaller profit margin and a drop in total revenue (ft. relevant economic concepts pop quiz time… oops). Taxi drivers are usually classified as blue-collared workers with relatively low socio-economic status; thus, a decrease in profit has a larger magnitude of impact on their lives, especially with the ongoing COVID-19. While I acknowledge the good intentions behind the petrol duty hike, I feel that the government failed to look at the long term effects of such a policy on low-income communities.


Petrol duty hike will have an amplified impact on taxi drivers


Up to this point, I have to say that my goal is not to instil a sense of guilt but to raise awareness of this issue. If you are wondering what we can possibly do in our capacity to help, I am extremely glad! Here are a list of things you and I can engage in to make a difference:


The most rudimentary step to take is to be aware of the seeds of justice sprouting across the global soil. This includes issues like systematic racism, dsicrimination against blacks and the rights of indegenious communities. We should actively expose ourselves to such truths and acknowledge the inequalities that are happening.


Firstly, I have a plethora of Instagram accounts that raise awareness on issues related to the environment and minority groups - take for example, @zenerations, @chnge, @earthtodorcas and @byobottlesg, just to name a few. These accounts will certainly captivate you with their colourfully curated posts and alluring captions! If you are more interested in watching short video clips, I have you covered. TikTokers, such as @kweenwerk, @eco_og and @imperfectidealist, film videos ranging from simple tips to save the earth to fashion advice for sustainable clothing. For our fellow loyal Youtube fans, you are not being left out; YouTube channels like "Intersectional Environmentalist" and "Our Changing Climate" provide a concrete foundation to eye-opening issues such as ecofeminism and greenwashing.


Secondly, podcasts are definitely a productive way to spend our time on public transport or when we feel like zoning out (not when doing work though)! I highly recommend "Dismantled", "BBCearth", "Hot Take" and "Spoken Earth". The speaker offers an honest approach to discuss social and environmental issues, thereby allowing us to reflect and absorb knowledge at the same time.


Thirdly, we can show our support for existing campaigns promoting intersectional environmentalism - for example, the Singapore Climate Rally organisation has included intersectional environmentalism as one of the policies they are championing for. We can voice our support by following such accounts, signing petitions and spreading awareness on our respective social media platforms. Regardless of the magnitude of the impact we create, a step forward is still something significant and commendable.


Singapore Climate Rally


To end off, Leah Thomas shared that, "One day, I hope that we won't have to separate mainstream environmentalism and intersectional environmentalism because our activism will be inclusive and equitable". We homosapiens live on this planet, utilise its natural resources and enjoy its magnificent beauty. Alast, let's all do our part to preserve the state of the earth as well as protect the welfare of marginalised communities in a bid to create a harmonious sanctuary to thrive in.


Written by: Ember Foo (22A15)

Edited by: Caroline Ong (21A10)

Special thanks to Green Council for the resources provided.


References and Picture credits

  1. Estella Ho on climate justice and intersectionality. ZERRIN. (2022). Retrieved 19 April 2022, from https://zerrin.com/estella-ho-on-climate-justice-and-intersectionality/.

  2. About — Intersectional Environmentalist. Intersectional Environmentalist. (2022). Retrieved 19 April 2022, from https://www.intersectionalenvironmentalist.com/about.

  3. Intersectional Environmentalism: Why Environmental Justice Is Essential For A Sustainable Future — The Good Trade. The Good Trade. (2022). Retrieved 19 April 2022, from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/environmental-justice.

  4. What Mainstream Environmentalism Gets Wrong. Marie Claire Magazine. (2022). Retrieved 19 April 2022, from https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a36176067/what-is-intersectional-environmentalism/.

  5. What is 'intersectional environmentalism'? » Yale Climate Connections. Yale Climate Connections. (2022). Retrieved 19 April 2022, from https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/09/what-is-intersectional-environmentalism-leah-thomas/.

  6. When both the rich and poor feel the heat from climate change. TODAY. (2022). Retrieved 19 April 2022, from https://www.todayonline.com/commentary/when-both-rich-and-poor-feel-heat-climate-change.

Beat the heat: More affluent households turn on air-con, lower-income ones use water. TODAY. (2022). Retrieved 19 April 2022, from

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