Empire and Environmental Anxiety

At present there are many environmental anxieties related to
pollution, species extinction, climate change, acid deposition
and many others. However, environmental anxieties are nothing new
and were also experienced during the colonial period of the 19th
and early 20th century. Colonial authorities and settlers in the
British Empire encountered unfamiliar environments and the
combination with environmental changes caused by their activities
led to widespread environmental anxieties. The most important
concern was anxiety over climate change. In 19th century debates
surrounding this issue, highly emotive, highly alarmist arguments
were made that are very similar to the ones used today.


In this episode, James Beattie, Senior Lecturer at the Department
of History of the University of Waikato in New Zealand explores
these anxieties of settlers, scientist and colonial officials in
India, Australia and New Zealand.


Music credit: Terra Incognita by ditto ditto available from
ccMixter