Module 1: History of Climate Science and Colonialism

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Welcome to Module one !!!

In this Module, you will hear the experts talking about the history of climate science and colonialism. This Module is based on the contents shared by two experts in this field: Harriet Mercer and Thomas Simpson. Key topics included in this Module include the evolution of the concept of climate science and colonialism; major themes of the climate science, colonialism and empire; international framework and the neo colonialism in the IPCC.

Broad Learning Outcomes

At the end of module, student should be able to demonstrate:

Knowledge and Understanding

Explain the drivers of climate science in the 19th century. Explain the difference between colonialism and coloniality.

Application:

Demonstrate, in written and/or oral form, the ability to make connections between the idea of scientific progress that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries and the theories of historical change that prevailed in the western academy at that time

Analysis/creativity

Demonstrate the ability to analyse the proposition that the drivers of 19th century climate science also fuelled the climate crisis of the 21st century

Synthesis/creativity

Describe different sides of the argument in discussions relating to the legacy of 19th century climate science and be able to represent these different sides in debates with fellow students

Contents

The main contents of this module is embedded in the video presentations by the experts. This link of the video is here: Link of the video

Timeline of the Video and the Contents Included

Timestamp	Topic
Timestamp	Topic
1:05:19 to 1:09:56	Imperial Climate Knowledge-Making & Transmission: What was behind the growth of interest in Climate Science in the industrial West during the 19th Century
1:10:10 to 1:12:50	The biographical approach to history – the ‘great men’ theory and the history of climate science.
1:12:51 to 1:23:06	Summary: Five themes on Climate Science, Colonialism and Empire
1:23:07 to 1:26:02	Lasting legacies of Colonialism: the IPCC - the international framework for consensus building in climate science and climate action
1:26:54 to 1:29:58	The value of histories of Climate Science: Neo colonialism in the IPCC process and Ocean Science Diplomacy. Cross-reference: talks by Yamina Saheb and Andrei Polejack respectively.

Look at the specific sections of the video and familiarize yourself from the concepts outlined in this module.

 

Topic One: Imperial Climate Knowledge-Making & Transmission

Imperial Climate Knowledge-Making & Transmission: What was behind the growth of interest in Climate Science in the industrial West during the 19th Century

Time: 1:05:19 to 1:09:56

Contextual Reading

1. Mercer, H., & Simpson, T. (2023). Imperialism, colonialism, and climate change science. WIREs Climate Change, 14(6), e851. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.851;
2. Rohan Deb Roy https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/science-bears-fingerprints-colonialism-180968709/ For Upper level question 2:
3. Farhana Sultana : The Unbearable Heaviness of Climate Coloniality, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2022.102638

Questions for Students

Review the chronological time line. List the key events on the timeline.

What do you understand by 'Colonial legacies’ ?

Can you give an example of a ‘colonial legacy’, either from the video or from your own observations and experience?

Critical Thinking

1. In what ways have the imperial and colonial contexts shaped (i) our understanding of climate change and (ii) the means by which we can respond to this?
2. Colonial and post colonial exploitation are pillars of the global economic system driving climate change. What is needed to achieve a ‘just energy transition’ without further exploitation of the global south?
3. Note: possible discussion point on intersection of racism and colonialism; Coen reference

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