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Paper short abstract:

It is crucial to go beyond the Eurocentric conceptualization of the climate crisis and to acknowledge epistemological inclusion and ontological pluralism that use multiple values, normative commitments, and local ways of knowing that are produced by those who are at the frontline of climate crisis

Paper long abstract:

The study argues that there are interlinks between climate crisis, environmental injustice and colonialism that induce variant vulnerabilities and colonial hierarchies created by centuries of global politics and its ecological ramifications, compounded by more recent histories of plundering and use of the natural resources by the global North and fossil fuel corporations. Under this premise, the study aims to explore the notion of climate coloniality and how it unfolds in the African context by examining the indigenous Amazigh communities’ perceptions about climate change, its impacts and possible mitigation and adaptation ways as rooted in the indigenous knowledge. In addition, the study aims to explore and critically reflect on the discourses of ‘just’ green transition and the role of the indigenous Amazigh people in shaping its trajectory and its impacts on their communities. The study focuses on desk research about the history of environmental colonialism, climate injustice and green transition in Africa. In addition, semi-structured interviews and focus groups discussions will be conducted with the indigenous Amazigh people of Morocco and Algeria with a focus on the Draa-Tafilalet Amazigh community in Morocco and the Amazigh communities in Kabylia in the north-east of Algeria. These communities are selected for the purpose of this study as they share similar grievances; they are poor, bear the brunt of climate change and natural disasters, were displaced due to large scale climate action projects such as solar panels and suffer from harsh living conditions.