Climate change is real and politicians can no longer dismiss it as a myth or fake news. Droughts are becoming the norm in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hurricanes and storms are slowly eroding the world's best beaches. Black communities worldwide are the most vulnerable to poor water and sanitation, and pollution, living in the most deplorable living conditions. In this episode of Global Take, Alexanderia Haidara talks with Dr. April Baptiste about the effects of climate change, and how global policies affect Black Caribbean communities. We discuss the effects of environmental racism on black communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Her research centers on the effects of climate change in Caribbean fishers communities, particularly among black Jamaicans. Recently many countries signed the Paris Agreement, which seeks to guide the treatment of climate change by limiting the rise of the global temperature below 2 ̊ Celsius.  Do these international treaties target marginalized black communities in the Caribbean and Latin America? How effective are these treaties when it comes to combating climate change? What about China and its growing influence in the Caribbean? Tune in to Global Take.

Bio:

Dr. April Baptiste is a professor of environmental studies and Africana and Latin American studies at Colgate University. She loved climbing guava trees with her five siblings as a child, collecting fruits in her backyard, and playing with her mother’s animals as if they were pets. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Baptiste grew up embraced by greenery, faith, and a mother who prioritized hard work and education for her children. She earned her B.S and M.Sc from the University of West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad in 2002 and 2004 respectively. She earned her Ph.D. from State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 2008. Her research focuses on the intersection of environmental psychological variables and environmental justice issues within the Caribbean region.  Dr. Baptiste’s research projects have examined the relationship between environmental attitudes and concerns toward oil and gas drilling in Trinidad and the relationship between environmental justice and the siting of aluminum smelters. She has been featured on NPR and other international media outlets.

Podcast Team

Alexanderia Haidara, Host and Podcast Producer

Cheryle Galloway-Podcast Op-Ed Writer

Sidney Walters-Podcast Social Media Coordinator

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