Ecological imperialism

Stakeholder capitalism
Green colonialism

Nature

The ‘green’ agenda based on a ‘stakeholder capitalism’ strategy (governments and others facilitating the needs of private capital) has co-opted genuine concerns about the environment to pursue new multi-billion-dollar global investment opportunities.

Background

Ecological imperialism emerged as a recognized global issue in the late 20th century, when historians and ecologists traced the profound environmental transformations caused by European colonial expansion. Scholars such as Alfred W. Crosby highlighted how the deliberate and accidental introduction of Old World species reshaped ecosystems, economies, and societies worldwide. Growing interdisciplinary research has since deepened understanding of how these ecological disruptions underpin persistent inequalities and environmental challenges across continents.

Claim

If you read 2020 report Nature for Sale, by Friends of the Earth, you might conclude that we are witnessing a type of green imperialism that is using genuine concerns about the
environment to pursue a familiar agenda of extractivism, colonisation and commodification – the same old mindset, greenwashed and rolled out for public consumption. For some, things seem set to remain the same – business as usual.

Counter-claim

Ecological imperialism is an overblown concept that distracts from real, pressing global issues. The idea that the spread of species and ecosystems through colonization is a major problem ignores the natural adaptability of environments and the benefits of biodiversity. Focusing on this so-called problem wastes resources and attention that should be directed toward urgent challenges like poverty, disease, and climate change. Ecological imperialism simply isn’t a significant concern in today’s world.