Gunjan Chaudhary
Actor and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza has found herself at the centre of an online storm after linking patriarchy to climate change during a recent podcast appearance. The actress’s comments, made on Soha Ali Khan’s podcast All About Her, quickly went viral and sparked intense debate across social media platforms. While some users appreciated the broader perspective she attempted to present, many others criticised her remarks as simplistic and disconnected from the more complex realities of environmental degradation.
Dia Mirza
Dia Mirza Trolled For Her Remarks
During an episode of All About Her, hosted by Soha Ali Khan and featuring journalist Aarti Kumar-Rao, the conversation revolved around climate change, environmental destruction, and humanity’s relationship with nature. Sharing her views, Dia Mirza said, “Patriarchy is the cause of climate change. In this world, it is men who…” Before she could elaborate further, Soha Ali Khan interjected, adding, “You spoke about male ego.”
Dia Mirza
The discussion then shifted toward how systems of power and control influence the way human beings interact with the natural world. Explaining her perspective, Dia argued that humanity’s tendency to exploit nature stems from a mindset built around dominance, aggression, and unchecked development. The actress suggested that the same structures that encourage control over people can also shape humanity’s approach toward the environment.
Dia Mirza
Journalist Aarti Kumar-Rao further clarified the idea by noting that patriarchy is not simply about men, just as feminism is not solely about women. According to Kumar-Rao, the concept refers to larger systems of power and hierarchy that influence social and environmental outcomes. Soon after clips from the podcast began circulating on platforms such as X and Reddit, Dia Mirza faced sharp criticism.
Dia Mirza
Many users questioned her statement, arguing that blaming patriarchy for climate change oversimplified a highly complex issue. Several critics pointed out that environmental degradation has multiple causes, including, industrialisation and rapid urban expansion, dependence on fossil fuels, corporate pollution and large-scale emissions, government policies and regulatory failures, and economic systems focused on constant growth. For these users, attributing climate change primarily to patriarchy ignored the scientific, political, and economic factors that have directly contributed to the crisis.