Why has the United States played such an outsized role in the creation of the climate crisis? As a settler nation, the U.S. emerged from the colonizing, capitalist West, but what did America and its cultural peculiarities bring to the party? Part 4 of The Repair, our series on the climate emergency.

Researched and written by this season’s co-host, Amy Westervelt, produced and mixed by host John Biewen. Interviews with Colin Jerolmack, Darren Dochuk, Melissa Aronczyk, Bob Brulle, and the Rev. Lennox Yearwood.

The series editor is Cheryl Devall. Music in this episode by Lili Haydn, Kim Carroll, Chris Westlake, Lesley Barber, Cora Miron, and goodnight Lucas. Music consulting by Joe Augustine of Narrative Music.

Season 5 art by Mara Guevarra. Episode image: E. Bruce Harrison in Indonesia, 1970, working for the American mining company Freeport McMoRan. Photo courtesy of his daughter, Susan Harrison. Image editing by Mara Guevarra.

The Repair is supported by Scene on Radio listener-donors, and by the International Women’s Media Foundation.