G
Terms: Global Majority, Greenwashing
Global Majority
Phonetic Pronunciation: GLOH-buhl muh-JOR-uh-tee
Definition:
"Global Majority" is an inclusive term for the 80 percent of humanity racialized as non-white, replacing outdated “minority” labels with a strengths‑based, evidence‑led framework.
History:
The term "Global Majority" arose in London between 2003 and 2011 when Rosemary Campbell-Stephens introduced it as a powerful alternative to "ethnic minorities," aiming to center the roughly 80 percent of the world's population who exist outside whiteness. It evolved from academic and activist critiques of outdated and often homogenizing labels that, as Campbell-Stephens puts it, are "clumsy" and "blunt"—terms like BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) or "People of Color". By reframing identity through the lens of global demographics rather than minority status in Western contexts, the term shifts narratives of marginality toward ones of global belonging, strength, and leadership (Campbell-Stephens, 2020).
Current Usage:
Universities, NGOs, and schools use "Global Majority" to replace less formal terms to emphasize shared experience rather than geographic binaries. It appears in dictionaries (Cambridge Dictionary, 2023) and policy reports (NCVO, 2023) to foster inclusive, evidence‑based dialogue.
Examples:
A situational example: A city council report highlights the importance of inclusive policies by stating, "Our city's diversity is evident, with half of our residents coming from Global Majority backgrounds."
A sentence example: The university launched a compelling scholarship program specifically designed to support students from Global Majority communities.
Perspectives:
Mainstream educators and NGOs, like Internet legal and social tech activist Nighat Dad, champion “Global Majority” for its positive, unifying framing, shifting from deficit‑based “minority” language to strength‑based representation (Dachwitz, 2025).
Some critics argue it grossly oversimplifies and meshes together distinct phenotypes implies false "cohesion" amongst distinct cultures (e.g., Hindu cultures are assumed to be united with people from El Salvador) and may obscure inter‑group inequalities, urging more in-depth terminology (Sixsmith, 2023)
Did You Know?
Despite its success, the London Challenge education initiative - globally regarded as one of the UK’s greatest secondary school reforms (Tomlinson, 2013) - erased the overwhelming contribution of Black educators (Campbell-Stephens, 2020). The Global Majority concept was partially coined to ensure such silence doesn't happen again.
Sources:
Cambridge Dictionary. “Global Majority.” @CambridgeWords, 8 Mar. 2023, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/global-majority/. Accessed 13 May 2025.
Dachwitz, Ingo. "Global Majority House: How Activists Want to Bring Global Majority Perspectives into EU Tech Policy." Netzpolitik, 21 Apr. 2025, https://netzpolitik.org/2025/global-majority-house-how-activists-want-to-bring-global-majority-perspectives-into-eu-tech-policy/.
Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association. “People of the Global Majority.” ILPA, Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association, n.d., https://www.ilpa.org.uk/people-of-the-global-majority/. Accessed 13 May 2025.
Kanemura, Rei. “Time Well Spent 2023: Volunteering among the Global Majority.” NCVO, 28 Nov. 2023, https://www.ncvo.org.uk/news-and-insights/news-index/time-well-spent-2023-volunteering-among-the-global-majority/. Accessed 13 May 2025.
Sixsmith, Ben. "Marginalising the Majority: Progressive Rhetoric Has a Projection Problem." The Critic, 1 May 2023, https://thecritic.co.uk/marginalising-the-majority/.
Tomlinson, Mike. "How London Challenge Turned Capital's Schools Around." The Guardian, 11 Dec. 2013, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/11/london-challenge-turned-poor-schools-around.
Resources:
Horn, Kaniehti:io, host. Telling Our Twisted Histories. CBC Podcasts, 2021–ongoing
Canada Confesses – Black Community Resources
Canada Confesses – BIPOC Communities Resources
Greenwashing
Phonetic Pronunciation: GREEN-wosh-ing
Definition:
A practice undertaken by businesses to mislead consumers regarding the sustainability and environmental benefits of a company, product or practice. Often by spinning their endeavours as environmentally friendly, companies can partake in harmful environmental practices
History:
Defined in the 1980s by environmentalist Jay Westerveld in response to a hotel that urged residents to reuse towels to promote environmental sustainability, when the true motivations were laundry cost reductions. The term continues to be used to refer to companies that act under the guise of environmental sustainability despite ulterior motives.
Current Usage:
Today, “greenwashing” is used in policy discussions, media and advocacy spaces to describe the misleading environmental practices and claims of companies. It frequently appears in conversation and policy crafting regarding corporate accountability, with the Competition Act by the Government of Canada containing aspects explicitly directed at greenwashing, and the UN having a group tasked with ensuring corporate integrity.
Examples:
A situational example: A company presents itself to customers to be sustainable, outlining on their website a promise to increase reusable packaging, but later quietly removes the commitment without meeting the goal or informing customers.
A sentence example: The company was accused of greenwashing after promoting environmentally friendly practices they failed to reflect in practice.
Perspectives:
Some perspectives argue that the lack of a universal definition of “greenwashing” can lead to unclear expectations for companies, and policies and punishments enforced only after transgressions have been made.
Did You Know?
There is currently no universal definition of “greenwashing,” with each nation possessing individual entities that outline what constitutes “greenwashing” in their individual countries. This lack of standardization can complicate international business practices.
Sources:
Greenwashing – the deceptive tactics behind environmental claims
Environmental Claims and Greenwashing
Defining Greenwashing: A Concept Analysis
EXPERT ANALYSIS: Defining and Understanding Greenwashing
Resources:
Greenwashing – the deceptive tactics behind environmental claims