Negative Ecologies: Fossil Fuels and the Discovery of the Environment

Fossil fuels have had a major impact on the environment, making it visible, factual, and politically operable in North America. Negative Ecologies explores the relationship between fossil fuels and the ongoing discovery of the environment, documenting the upheavals, injuries, and disasters that have accompanied them. David Bond challenges us to consider what forms of critical engagement may be needed to confront the deleterious properties of fossil fuels and envision ways of living beyond them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 262 pages
Publication date: 26 July 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

The impact of fossil fuels on our environment is profound and far-reaching. From the moment they were first discovered and exploited, these resources have disrupted the delicate balance of clean water, clean air, and stable climate that sustains life on Earth. In his book, Negative Ecologies, David Bond takes a bold and insightful look at the outsized role that fossil fuels have played in shaping the environment in North America.

Through a series of compelling stories, Bond explores the devastating effects of hydrocarbon harm, which laid the groundwork for environmental science and policy. He highlights the intricate dialectic between the negative ecologies of fossil fuels and the ongoing discovery of the environment. From leaky Caribbean refineries to deepwater oil spills, from the petrochemical fallout of plastics manufacturing to the extractive frontiers of Canada, Bond documents the upheavals, injuries, and disasters that have long accompanied fossil fuels.

What emerges from this history is a sobering realization that our solutions to environmental problems have often been less about confronting the cause than managing the effects. We have been quick to deploy technologies and policies to address the immediate consequences of pollution and climate change, but we have failed to address the root causes of these issues.

In Negative Ecologies, Bond challenges us to consider what forms of critical engagement may now be needed to both confront the deleterious properties of fossil fuels and envision ways of living beyond them. He calls for a shift in our mindset, from one of short-term solutions and quick fixes to a more holistic and sustainable approach.

Bond suggests that we need to re-evaluate our relationship with fossil fuels and recognize their role in perpetuating environmental harm. He advocates for a transition to renewable energy sources, the reduction of carbon emissions, and the protection of natural ecosystems. He also calls for a more democratic and inclusive approach to environmental decision-making, which involves engaging communities, marginalized voices, and the scientific community in the process.

One of the most powerful aspects of Negative Ecologies is its ability to re-situate scholarly understandings of fossil fuels and renovate environmental critique today. Bond challenges us to think beyond the narrow confines of economic analysis and consider the broader social and cultural implications of our energy choices. He encourages us to explore alternative visions of the future, which are based on principles of sustainability, equity, and resilience.

In conclusion, Negative Ecologies is a thought-provoking and important book that sheds light on the outsized role of fossil fuels in shaping our environment. It challenges us to confront the negative ecologies of these resources and envision a more sustainable and equitable future. By engaging with the ideas presented in this book, we can work towards a world that is cleaner, healthier, and more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520386778