Historian Sunil Amrith Exposes 500 Years of Climate Change and Human Greed

In his new book "The Burning Earth", environmental historian Sunil Amrith explores the connections between global warming and environmental shifts over the last 500 years. Amrith argues that the quest to feed ourselves has been a fundamental driver of human activity that has transformed the planet, while the pursuit of luxuries by a small elite has also played a disproportionate role in driving environmental harm.

Amrith notes that post-colonial regimes and their scientists were more ambitious than their colonial forebears, seeing technology as a means of social liberation. However, he believes these societies missed opportunities to develop and deploy technologies in more socially beneficial and ecologically sustainable ways. Amrith points to a sense of "haste" shared by leaders in India and China, which opened the door to environmental recklessness.

Despite the seriousness of the climate crisis, Amrith observes that it has struggled to gain the same traction as economic challenges or identity politics. He argues that creative storytelling is needed to make the emotional connections necessary to shift public perceptions, rather than relying on data alone. Amrith also cautions against attributing everything to climate change, noting the risk of oversimplifying the complex relationship between environmental pressures and human migration.