New Books Network Laurie Parsons, "Carbon Colonialism: How Rich Countries Export Climate Breakdown" (Manchester UP, 2023)
Jan 18, 2026
Laurie Parsons, an academic researcher based in London, delves into the concept of carbon colonialism, revealing how wealthy nations offload their environmental responsibilities. Her insights from 15 years of research in Cambodia expose the stark realities of outsourcing and its impact on vulnerable communities. Parsons critiques the adequacy of consumer-focused sustainability, highlights rampant greenwashing, and stresses the need for political action to regulate supply chains. She connects the dots between production practices and climate injustice, urging listeners to demand accountability.
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A Structural View Of Environmental Harm
- The book synthesizes varied practices—offsets, outsourcing, capture, and domestic land grabs—into a single political-economic critique.
- Parsons positions carbon colonialism as structural, not just a collection of discrete problems.
Carbon Colonialism Defined
- Carbon colonialism describes how wealthy countries shift environmental harm onto poorer places through offsets, outsourcing, and policy choices.
- Laurie Parsons argues these practices hide true emissions and legitimize continuing high-carbon economies.
Multiple Faces Of Carbon Colonialism
- 'Carbon colonialism' has multiple meanings: offsets, outsourcing, carbon capture, and policy tools that legitimize ongoing emissions.
- Parsons argues these are interconnected ways the global economy redistributes environmental risk.
