Dia Mirza responds to trolling over patriarchy and climate change remarks
Synopsis
Dia Mirza's claim that men and patriarchal systems are 'entirely and totally responsible' for the climate crisis sparked fierce online backlash. Her Instagram clarification insists she was targeting extractive power structures, not individuals — but the controversy has reignited a sharp debate about how celebrity environmentalism engages with gender politics.
Key Takeaways
Dia Mirza stated on Soha Ali Khan's podcast that men are 'entirely and totally responsible' for the climate crisis.
She was widely trolled on social media following the remarks.
On 16 June , Mirza posted a clarification on Instagram , saying her comments targeted patriarchal systems , not individual men.
She argued that extractive, male-dominated economic systems have structurally driven climate change and simultaneously underrepresented women in environmental decision-making.
The controversy has drawn attention to ecofeminism — the academic framework linking gender inequality and environmental degradation.
Actress and environmental advocate Dia Mirza has responded to a wave of online trolling following her remarks on Soha Ali Khan's podcast, in which she stated that patriarchal systems — and by extension, men — are 'entirely and totally responsible' for the climate crisis. Mirza clarified on Instagram on 16 June that her comments targeted systemic power structures, not individual men.
What Dia Mirza Said
During her podcast appearance, Mirza had stated: 'Patriarchy is the cause for climate change. It is the men in this world that have… Yeah, it's men who have driven climate change and they are entirely and totally responsible for the chaos that has been unleashed on our world today and the misery that people are experiencing everywhere.' The remarks drew sharp criticism across social media, with many accusing her of generalising and oversimplifying a complex global issue.
Her Clarification on Instagram
Responding to the backlash, Mirza posted a detailed explanation on Instagram, writing: 'I stand by my statement — Patriarchy caused the climate crisis. Climate change is often spoken about as an environmental crisis. But it is also a crisis of inequality. For centuries, patriarchal systems have concentrated power, prioritised extraction over care, and treated both nature and vulnerable communities as resources to be exploited rather than protected.'
She drew a parallel between the treatment of women and the treatment of natural ecosystems: 'Forests, rivers, oceans, and ecosystems have been viewed as commodities. Just as women often are. The consequences of this thinking are now impossible to ignore.'
The Broader Argument She Made
Mirza also referenced her podcast episode 'All About Her', co-hosted with environmentalist Arati Kumar-Rao, in which she argued that 'extractive, uncaring, and dominating' economic systems — 'entirely controlled by men' — have structurally contributed to climate change. She further contended that the same systems are 'working overtime on discrediting voices that speak up for nature protection and women's rights.'
On the gendered impact of climate change, Mirza wrote: 'Women and girls, particularly in vulnerable communities, are often the first to experience the impacts of climate change — through water scarcity, food insecurity, displacement, and loss of livelihoods. Yet they remain underrepresented in almost all of the spaces where environmental decisions are made.'
Context and Criticism
Mirza, known for her roles in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein and Sanju, has long been an outspoken advocate on environmental issues. Her original remarks, however, did not sit well with a section of the public, who felt the framing unfairly attributed collective responsibility to all men rather than to specific power structures. The backlash reflects a recurring tension in public discourse around intersectional environmentalism — where climate advocacy overlaps with gender politics — and the challenges of communicating nuanced academic arguments in popular media formats.
Notably, the argument that patriarchal systems drive environmental exploitation is not new; it draws from a body of academic work known as ecofeminism, which has been debated in policy and academic circles for decades. Whether Mirza's framing advances or complicates that conversation remains contested.
Point of View
And the backlash was predictable. Her Instagram clarification is more careful and more defensible, grounding the argument in ecofeminist theory rather than blanket attribution. But the gap between what she said on the podcast and what she now says she meant is real, and critics are not wrong to notice it. Celebrity climate advocacy carries outsized reach and carries a corresponding responsibility for precision — especially on a subject where public trust is already fragile. The episode is a case study in how imprecise framing can swamp the substance of an otherwise legitimate argument.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Dia Mirza say about men and climate change?
On Soha Ali Khan's podcast, Dia Mirza stated that 'it's men who have driven climate change and they are entirely and totally responsible for the chaos that has been unleashed on our world today.' The remarks triggered widespread trolling on social media.
How did Dia Mirza respond to the trolling?
Mirza posted a detailed clarification on Instagram, saying she stood by her statement but intended it as a critique of patriarchal power structures — not individual men. She argued that extractive, male-dominated systems have historically prioritised exploitation over care, contributing to the climate crisis.
What is ecofeminism and how does it relate to Mirza's remarks?
Ecofeminism is an academic framework that links the domination of women and the exploitation of nature to the same patriarchal systems of power. Mirza's argument draws from this body of thought, which has been debated in policy and academic circles for decades.
Who is Arati Kumar-Rao and what is her connection to this controversy?
Arati Kumar-Rao is an environmentalist and co-host of the podcast episode 'All About Her' alongside Dia Mirza, in which both discussed the links between extractive economic systems and climate change. Mirza referenced the episode in her Instagram post to provide fuller context for her remarks.
Why do women bear a disproportionate burden from climate change, according to Mirza?
Mirza argued that women and girls — particularly in vulnerable communities — are among the first to face the consequences of climate change through water scarcity, food insecurity, displacement, and loss of livelihoods, while remaining underrepresented in environmental decision-making spaces.
