Ecologies of Resistance: Quilombola Participation in Climate Governance

The findings of Ferdinand (2022) highlight the fact that black enslaved people in the Americas and the Caribbean were the pioneers of environmentalism. However, both classical ecological thinkers and scholars who celebrate these groups as symbols of resistance often overlook the role of anti-slavery movements as precursors to environmentalism. Recognised since the 16th century, these communities have endured over time primarily through the integration of political and environmental practices. This study aims to study how these contemporary movements can contribute to deliberative practices in addressing climate issues. This work takes a theoretical approach to the case of the quilombola community of Alcântara, Brazil, which recently had a case reviewed by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (2023). The research builds on the approaches of Lafont (2021), who sees judicial review as a participatory space for citizens, and the results will seek to highlight the historical reparations that can result from the increased involvement of traditional communities in environmental debates.