The Environment in Canada Podcast Decolonizing Climate Research with Dr. Enoch Tse
Nov 4, 2025
Dr. Enoch Tse, an expert in public policy and community psychology, discusses the vital shift from extractive to reciprocal climate research in Canada. He emphasizes the importance of involving Indigenous peoples as co-researchers and aligning projects with community priorities. Enoch explores how worldviews shape research questions, advocating for humility and local stewardship. He outlines a five-step process for decolonizing research and shares strategies for fostering collective action, emphasizing empathy and the unpacking of privilege for impactful advocacy.
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Make Research Local And Reciprocal
- Climate research must be local and relational, involving Indigenous peoples at design, collection, interpretation, and dissemination stages.
- Reciprocal research treats local people as co-researchers so results become useful and beneficial to their communities.
Ask Communities If The Problem Exists
- First ask whether local peoples see the problem and want research on it before designing interventions like carbon offsets.
- Co-design research only when communities identify the issue to ensure relevance and consent.
Colonial Framing Drives Hubris
- Colonial worldviews frame human–nature relations as exploitation, consumption, or self-preservation, centering human hubris.
- Humility must be learned to include Indigenous perspectives and avoid saviorism in climate work.