New Books in Economics Laurie Parsons, "Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown" (Manchester UP, 2023)
Jan 18, 2026
Laurie Parsons, an academic from Royal Holloway, University of London, dives into her research on environmental politics and labor in the global South. She discusses the concept of carbon colonialism, revealing how rich countries outsource climate damage to poorer nations. The conversation critiques sustainable consumerism and exposes the harsh realities of Cambodia's garment industry. Parsons argues for political action rather than relying on individual choices, highlighting the importance of regulating global supply chains to combat environmental degradation.
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Carbon Colonialism Is Multifaceted
- Carbon colonialism groups several practices that shift environmental harms onto poorer countries.
- These include offsets, carbon outsourcing, carbon capture narratives, and regulatory practices that legitimize pollution abroad.
Opaque Supply Chains Undermine Green Claims
- Sustainable consumption is undermined by opaque, complex global supply chains and widespread greenwashing.
- Brands profit from obscurity, making consumer-level oversight ineffective.
Garment Dump And Illegal Wood Burning
- Parsons describes a huge garment dump near Phnom Penh filled with labeled clothing waste from major brands.
- She also documents factories burning thousands of tons of illegal forest wood to produce steam for ironing exported garments.
