Reported by Cody Schmidt, class of 2025, and Grace Kelly, class of 2025
DKU’s Eco-Emancipation conference gathered international scholars to explore approaches to environmental justice, rights of nature, and themes in human-environment relationality. Through lectures, discussion, and spirited debates, participants imagined liberation beyond modern anthropocentric frameworks.
The Humanities Research Center held a three-day conference titled “Eco-Emancipation: Reimagining Sustainability, Justice, and Liberation” from April 10th to 12th. Hosted by DKU professors Quinlan Bowman and Robin Rodd, the conference brought together a number of scholars—both in-person and virtual—from across the globe to discuss novel ideas concerning the rights of nature, bioculturalism, and the interconnectedness between humans and their environment.
The conference drew its name and themes from a recently published book by Sharon Krause, a professor of political science at Brown University, titled Eco-Emancipation: An Earthly Politics of Freedom. In her book, Krause offers a political framework for environmental justice and argues for greater constraints on domination and exploitation, both regarding humans and what she refers to as the “more-than-human,” topics which were referenced throughout the conference.
Keynote speaker Robyn Eckersley (University of Melbourne) opened the conference on April 10th with a lecture tracing the history of non-anthropocentric political theories, from early religion-inspired stewardship to modern legislative methods. Eckersley’s address set the stage for the days ahead, followed by an opening reception and a student panel on eco-emancipation and sustainability.
Sharon Krause began the first full day of speakers with an overview and expansion on the themes of her book. Speaking via Zoom, she built upon the need for a non-anthropocentric transition and recognition of nature’s rights through its representation in political systems. Renee Richer (DKU) spoke next, exploring the colonial history of invasive species, followed by Robyn Eckersley, who spoke on the practice of eco-emancipation and its tangible processes and outcomes. Joining virtually, Alf Hornberg (Lund University) discussed the need for humans to reorient their actions and thoughts in response to a rapidly changing biosphere, adapting to match the seriousness of the climate crisis. Lisa Ellis (University of Otago) and Marion Hourdequin (Colorado College), both joining online as well, presented ideas for achieving a post-extractivist, eco-emancipatory world. Ellis analyzed New Zealand’s rights of nature legislation, and Hourdequin argued for the interpretation of certain ethical choices as political. Hans Baer (University of Melbourne) closed this day of lectures with a critique of the aviation industry and its effects on the environment.
The final day began with co-host Robin Rodd detailing biocultural efforts in the Paraguay-Paraná watershed, where a collective of Argentinian activists is creating economic and social empowerment for communities. Miguel Rojas-Sotelo (Duke University) and Isabel Altamirano-Jimenez (University of Alberta) spoke on indigenous cosmologies and associated rejections of anthropocentrism in favor of eco-relationality. Rowan Alcock (Tsinghua University) presented his current project on post-growth values in Chinese communities, primarily through the care of collectives. Eben Kirksey (University of Oxford) spoke on how social inequities and exploitative industry practices shape humans’ vulnerability to viruses, drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference concluded with co-host Quinlan Bowman’s preview of his forthcoming paper, which interrogates the idea of a societal “overlapping consensus” on eco-emancipation as presented by Krause.
Each talk was followed by a Q&A, during which lively, stimulating debates engaged guest scholars, DKU professors, and students in discussion. The result was a dynamic exchange of ideas from global yet intersecting perspectives, leaving participants eager to continue to reimagine what true sustainability and eco-emancipation might look like.
