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Effects of Colonization on Climate In addition to having political, social, and cultural effects, colonization has impacted our climate in several negative ways. Although there are many complex factors which affect the climate, colonization has the ability to accelerate and increase the effects of climate change. Sidoarjo Mudflow The case of the Sidoarjo Mudflow (also called Lusi) in Indonesia provides an example of the effect of colonization on climate 2 change. PT Lapindo Brantas, a joint venture between Australian oil and gas company Santos Limited and two Indonesian corporations, was drilling in Indonesia. On the 28th of May, Santos Limited drilled a borehole in hopes to extract gas. As an effect, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, Yogyakarta, hit, causing major repercussions. The well lost circulation, which subsequently caused the borehole to erupt mud up to a height of 200 meters. It still flows today, and often causes roadblocks and other inconveniences for the residents of the area. As of right now, the Lusi mud volcano has displaced over 39,000 people and covered 15 villages. Not only did the decision of Lapindo Brantas affect the local Indonesian people, but it also impacted the climate in drastic ways. Scientists estimate that mud volcanoes emit about nine million tons of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas into the atmosphere every year. Lusi is the largest mud volcano in the world, and it is estimated to emit 2,300 tons of methane every year on top of 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The company ignored the fact that an earthquake had occurred the day before and went ahead with the plan, despite clear evidence that something was not right (the mud loss and loss of circulation). In this case, industry disregarded the local people's safety and well-being in order to quickly extract oil and gas, exploiting the community and causing climate effects at the same time. Effects of Climate Change on Colonized People Climate change significantly impacts colonized people, including Indigenous communities, around the globe. There are many instances when these people contribute few influencing factors to climate change yet they feel the effects even more than colonizers do. Though different communities face different effects, the majority of these colonized groups face similar issues around loss of resources for traditional use, lifestyle, and culture, as outlined in case study above. One of these effects includes loss of land due to desertification : 3 "The Fulani herdsmen and farmers conflict in northern Nigeria recently is a natural or environment resource scarcity caused by climate change which has through drought and desertification lead to conflict between the two. The herdsmen migrate to neighbouring states with lush vegetation, invading and displacing farmlands, destroying lives and properties.This chain of events is a clear example of eco-violence." Josephine Udonsi and Leleh Precious, Nigeria Other examples of climate effects include natural disasters, such as hurricanes, severe droughts and floods, which typically affect colonized peoples more strongly because they often have access to fewer resources. As our group experienced 2 Mohsin, Anto. "The Sidoarjo Mudflow and the Muddiness of an Environmental Disaster." Environment & Society Portal, Arcadia Spring 2017, no. 5. Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society. doi.org/10.5282/rcc/7767 3 https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-desertification.php 4

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