A Book Talk: The Sustainability Class
Sunday, January 25th, 2026 at 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Join us for a book talk with authors Vijay Kolinjivadi and Aaron Vansintjan as they discuss their newest book The Sustainability Class.
More than ever, urban residents want to be green, yet to cater to their interests, a green-tech service economy has sprung up, co-opting well-intentioned concerns over sustainability to sell a resource-heavy and exclusive “lifestyle environmentalism.” This has made cities more unsustainable and inaccessible to the working class. The Sustainability Class explores, with biting humor, how investors around the world are rushing to capitalize on going green. By contrast, real-world examples of movements for housing and food production, transport, and waste management demonstrate how ordinary people are building a more ecological future by working together, against all odds. In doing so, they show us how sustainability can be reclaimed for everyone. Sustainability isn’t about vibes and superficial green facades. It’s about building people power to reimagine the world.
“A scathing critique. . . . Readers will come away more savvy and empowered.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)”A powerful challenge to a way of thinking that has turned sustainability into a virtue-signaling lifestyle.”
—Kirkus Reviews
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)”A powerful challenge to a way of thinking that has turned sustainability into a virtue-signaling lifestyle.”
—Kirkus Reviews
About the Authors
Vijay Kolinjivadi is an assistant professor at the School for Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. He is also a co-editor of the website Uneven Earth. He has been published in Al Jazeera, New Internationalist, Truthout, and The Conversation.
Aaron Vansintjan is Policy Manager at Food Secure Canada and the founder and co-editor of Uneven Earth and co-author of The Future Is Degrowth. He has been published in The Guardian, Truthout, openDemocracy, and The Ecologist.