Around the world, many countries are becoming less democratic. This backsliding on democracy and"creeping authoritarianism," as the U.S. State Department puts it, is often supported by the same industries that are escalating climate change.
Today, it's easy to find political leaders—on both the political right and left—working on behalf of corporations in energy, finance, agribusiness, technology, military and pharmaceutical sectors, and not always in the public interest. These multinational companies help fund their political careers and election campaigns to keep them in office.
The industry's power in shaping policy plays out in examples like the coalition of 19 Republican state attorneys general and coal companies suing to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. In"Global Burning," I explore how three leaders of traditionally democratic countries—Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, Scott Morrison of Australia and Donald Trump in the U.S.—came to power on anti-environment and nationalist platforms appealing to an extreme-right populist base and extractive corporations that are driving climate change. While the political landscape of each country is different, the three leaders have important commonalities.
In Australia, Morrison's government ignored widespread public and scientific opposition and opened the controversial Adani Carmichael mine, one of the largest coal mines in the world. The mine will impact public health and the climate and threatens the Great Barrier Reef as temperatures rise and ports are expanded along the coast.
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