As the world celebrates another Earth Day, focused on educating and inspiring action in the global citizenry, we must acknowledge and turn to the leadership of those who have been protecting and investing in our planet for millennia. I speak about communities in the Global South, women of color, and Indigenous Peoples. For many in these intersections of gender, race, caste and socio-economic class, sustainable living and stewardship are ingrained in their local culture and way of life. Yet, they bear the brunt of a climate crisis fueled by exploitative policies and practices. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its sixth and final report named colonialism as a historical and ongoing driver of the climate crisis.
