New Books in Critical Theory Laurie Parsons, "Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown" (Manchester UP, 2023)
Jan 18, 2026
Laurie Parsons unveils the concept of carbon colonialism, revealing how wealthier nations export their environmental crises. She critiques sustainable consumerism, highlighting the opaque supply chains and corporate greenwashing that mislead consumers. Through the lens of Cambodia's garment industry, Parsons exposes the stark differences between brand claims and reality. She also addresses labor exploitation in brickmaking and advocates for political action over ethical consumption. New supply-chain laws aiming to hold companies accountable signal hope for change.
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Global Production Shapes Climate Risk
- Global production and climate harm are mutually entangled through export-oriented economies.
- Laurie Parsons centers environmental risk in the study of global factories and labour relations.
Carbon Colonialism Is Multifaceted
- Carbon colonialism labels multiple practices that shift environmental harm to poorer places.
- It covers offsets, outsourcing, carbon capture, and laws that legitimize pollution thresholds.
Move From Shopping To Politics
- Don't rely primarily on individual ethical consumption to solve systemic emissions.
- Focus effort on political action and supply-chain regulation instead.
