Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Climate Change is Racist is a good primer in looking at the causes and effects of climate change on a population filled with disparities and tiered classes. The truth is that while climate change affects us all, it affects some of us more than others. While the upper class is disproportionately responsible for creating climate change, it is the lower economic classes, which are disproportionately comprised of marginalized groups which must take on more of the burdens of those changes. Environmental activist Jeremy Williams brings attention via his book at to how White privilege overlaps with climate change.

Disclaimer: A copy of the book was provided by the publisher.

This is a brilliant introduction to the concept of 'climate justice' - how the people least responsible for the causes of climate crisis are most affected by it - and how climate justice in inextricable from racial justice.

Although as a climate activist I was already familiar with most of the arguments and theories the book puts forward, it is a really helpful summary with lots of useful facts quoted (and a devastating chart) that I know I'll go back to. I also hope to get a few copies to lend to family and friends who care about climate change, but aren't yet familiar with how 'the climate crisis is a racist crisis' (BLM UK, 2016). There are twelve short chapters, with a good balance of statistics, quotes from lived experience, social theory, and personal reflection.

I wanted to read 'Climate Change is Racist' because of the provocative--but very true--title, I was initially a bit put off to read that that the author Jeremy Williams is a white middle-class man, but he makes the excellent point that although he questioned whether it is was "his" book to write, he realised that white people have a duty to address the impacts of structural racism and white privilege, rather than seeing it as the 'problem' of people of colour. The books manages to avoid 'white saviorism' while also emphasising the importance of personal responsibility (the topic of the last chapter) in the wake of these interrelated crises. And while it's important that white people who 'care about climate change' listen to people who don't look like us, whose lives may be very different to ours, this book is a great place to start for those new to these ideas, or in need of a refresher.

What a super informative intense book! If you like a deep dive into subject matter written like a tell-all essay, then please pick this up! I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the socio-economic makeup of different countries and how they have singly (maybe not so simply) contributed to like climate crisis as we know it around the world today.
The reason why I have rated this as three stars and not four is that the subject matter is super deep and required me to take many breaks while reading it - so it definitely is only suited for those who enjoy reading this type of material.

🌿BOOK REVIEW🌿

Climate Change Is Racist by Jeremy Williams

“Because of these historical power imbalances, racism has already shaped the world’s response to climate change. When action is delayed or when targets are weakened, it is the world’s Black and Brown populations that suffer greater harm. Weak climate targets are racist policies.

In this short, powerful piece of writing, the environmental activist Jeremy Williams explores the relationship between white privilage and the climate crisis.

When I saw the title of this book I was interested immediately! Williams offers an overview of white privilage, systematic racism before delving into the nitty gritty of the impacts of climate change. Travelling all over the globe we see how the poorest individuals are the ones constantly impacted by the climate crisis, while wealthier (and mostly white) individuals have the privilage of being able to ignore the crisis for the most part.

This book is full of facts and resources for further reading which for me is fantastic! This is a great book for anyone looking to improve their understanding on the issue!


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This book is incredibly important, and regards a topic I hadn’t pondered in great depth before now. The discussion surrounding climate change and racism is very poignant particularly at the moment, which is why I believe everyone, if they can, should read this.

In addition to ‘Climate change is Racist’s ideas regarding habitual and systematic racism (in poorer, predominantly black countries receiving the short end of the stick with global warming etc), the book also promoted other ideas for me such as consumerism and a drive to reduce constant buying. It’s a must read for those academically / geographically inclined or otherwise.

Climate Change is Racist: Race, Privilege, and the Struggle for Climate Justice is not my "typical" non-fiction pick. I always joke that anything in the STEM field goes way over my head. When I read the description for the book, I was intrigued.

The book itself challenges readers to look at what they know about racism. Now, most readers who pick up this book are aware of personal biases or institutional attitudes that harm people of color, especially Black people. This harm can impact everything, from self-esteem to job acquisition. Williams pushes past surface-level understandings of racism to discuss the structural racism built into our society (which ultimately causes personal and institutional racism) and how this structure, combined with climate change, reinforces the racial injustices and inequalities.

Jeremy Williams takes readers all over the world to discuss how white privilege affects climate change. Through this travel, Williams encourages readers to look at the expertise presented by activists and scientists while also understanding the effect this climate change has on the most impacted communities. Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (author of This is Why I Resist: Don't Define My Black Identity) wrote the foreword and it is short but absolutely impactful. I also thought that having Mos-Shogbamimu write a foreword was a good way to add a different perspective to reinforce his words and research.

During this book, I definitely found myself understanding climate change in a much deeper way. The recent environmental events impacting the world around us make this book's topic more relevant than ever. Reading this with those events fresh in my mind just reinforced that it is up to all of us to push for change and justice. It is the only way we can hope to lessen the impact of climate change and right the wrongs of society thus far.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 (rounded to 4)

Climate Change is Racist is available for purchase now. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf. Also, be sure to check out Jeremy Williams’s website!
I was lucky enough to be able to read this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A shorter informative piece about the intersectionality between climate change and racism. Williams tries to succinctly explain why and how this is. The last chapter he explains what he is going to do about it. We are all in this together folks.
Williams also points out some great resources, I can’t wait to look into further.

This was just excellent. The book is introduced by a foreword by Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, whom I already knew of; and is an excellent dive into racism and the climate crisis. I know little about either subject, and I think this is a great introduction for anyone wanting to learn more about how they are connected. Jeremy Williams starts with a few definitions - "casual" racism, institutional racism, and structural racism. He then explains in more details what many already know: the rich (in predominently White, western countries) ruin the planet and the poor (in Black/Brown, African and Asian countries mostly) have to suffer the consequences. The whole discourse around the environment is analysed, not as something we are all impacted by and can fight together, but as a product of capitalism and colonialism - "Like children in a car with a parent who smokes, many are suffering from someone else's pollution".It probably sounds obvious but the author really goes into detail and explains the mechanism behind these inequalities. This is why the global discourse where we must all make an effort and reduce our emissions is absurd: many poor countries and its inhabitants contribute nearly nothing to the global pollution, yet are asked to make the same kinds of sacrifices the rich countries find themselves unable to do.
For such a brief book (around 130 pages) it was more detailed than I expected, and I found it both accessible and intelligent. Really recommend it.

A well-written and accessible introduction to the inequity caused by climate change and eco-racism/eco-fascism. Everyone who cares about the environment needs to read this book.