The UK branch of Black Lives Matter took to Twitter this week to assert that climate change is actually racist.
“The climate crisis is a racist crisis. #ClimateEmergency.” the group tweeted.
The climate crisis is a racist crisis #ClimateEmergency
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) August 9, 2021
Previously, the group’s original US branch has made similar assertions.
“We all know who is most impacted by climate change,” the group said.
“Black people. Poor Black. People.” [sic]
We all know who is most impacted by climate change. Black people. Poor Black. People. #Debates2020 https://t.co/i1XQc11fh8
— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) September 30, 2020
Numerous publications, including Time Magazine and the Guardian have reiterated similar points.
Tackling systemic racism is fundamental to achieving environmental and climate justice. https://t.co/E6d2bOPKv8
— Jonathan Bartley (@jon_bartley) June 18, 2020
The title says it all. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/9xSIoZs3BT
— Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) August 3, 2020
Reactions to the UK group’s latest tweet were less than impressed to say the least.
“Is there anything that isn’t racist?” asked one user.
“Cottage cheese,” joked another.
Cottage Cheese
— Roberto Dawson and 312 others (@Rob_Dawson93) August 11, 2021
“Yes, the white supremacist innovators of the 18th/19th century harnessed the power of coal in order to create harsher climates for people of colour 200 years in the future,” one person said sarcastically.
Yes, the white supremacist innovators of the 18th/19th century harnessed the power of coal in order to create harsher climates for people of colour 200 years in the future.
— Stephen Mills (@Stephen_Mills85) August 11, 2021
“Have you started doing anything about the black on black crime in London yet? Or still too busy trying to change 18th Century literature and statues?” asked one commenter.
https://twitter.com/Paul99927790/status/1425454147701194753
“The climate is racist? Damn bigoted planetary ecosystems…” joked another.
The climate is racist? Damn bigoted planetary ecosystems..
— ViralTweets (@viralbunny) August 9, 2021
😞 please stop
— Kiel Robinson 🎥 ₿ (@kiel_robinson) August 11, 2021
Other users pointed out that two of the biggest world polluters are China and India – i.e. non-western countries – with China’s carbon emissions being more than all developed countries combined.
China's greenhouse gas emissions add up to more than the rest of the developed world combined. https://t.co/wKRX16ee4H
— Paul Barry (@TheRealPBarry) May 7, 2021
Dirty air: how India became the most polluted country on earth https://t.co/DFrRWWuFln
— Financial Times (@FT) December 11, 2018
Of the 200 cities with the worst air pollution on earth, 90% are in China and India alone.
Of the 200 cities with worst air pollution, 90 per cent are in China and India https://t.co/bw1wSS4Me4
— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) February 25, 2020
In fact, as regards plastic in the oceans, 90% of all plastic pollution in the ocean comes from just 10 rivers, 8 of which are in Asia, and 2 of which are in Africa.
90% of plastic polluting our #oceans comes from just 10 rivers https://t.co/VAQ8TI9afz pic.twitter.com/53GbcPsf7M
— World Economic Forum (@wef) August 22, 2018
Additionally, according to the UN’s latest climate report, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, China and Thailand rank among the biggest polluters on earth.