Climate justice
Climate justice is an approach to climate action that focuses on the unequal impacts of climate change on marginalized or otherwise vulnerable populations.[1] Climate justice wants to achieve an equitable distribution of both the burdens of climate change and the efforts to mitigate climate change.[2] Climate justice is a type of environmental justice.[3]
Climate justice examines concepts such as equality, human rights, collective rights, and the historical responsibilities for climate change. This is done by relating the causes and effects of climate change to concepts of justice, particularly environmental justice and social justice. Historically marginalized communities often face the worst consequences of climate change. Depending on the country and context, this may include people with low-incomes, indigenous communities or communities of color. Generally speaking, those who are the least responsible for climate change often suffer the greatest consequences.[4][5][6] They might also be further disadvantaged by responses to climate change which might exacerbate existing inequalities. This situation is known as the 'triple injustices' of climate change.[7][8][9]
Conceptions of climate justice can be grouped along the lines of procedural justice and distributive justice. The former stresses fair, transparent and inclusive decision making. The latter investigates a fair distribution of the costs of both climate change and the actions taken to address it.[7] Other approaches focus on addressing social implications of climate change mitigation. If these are not addressed properly, this could result in profound economic and social tensions. It could even lead to delays in necessary changes.[10]
Climate justice actions can include the growing global body of climate litigation.[11] In 2017, a report of the United Nations Environment Programme identified 894 ongoing legal actions worldwide.[12]
Use and popularity of climate justice language has increased dramatically in recent years, yet climate justice is understood in many ways, and the different meanings are sometimes contested. At its simplest, conceptions of climate justice can be grouped along the following two lines:[7]
The objectives of climate justice can be described as: "to encompasses a set of rights and obligations, which corporations, individuals and governments have towards those vulnerable people who will be in a way significantly disproportionately affected by climate change."[13]
Climate justice examines concepts such as equality, human rights, collective rights, and the historical responsibilities for climate change. Climate justice is mainly concerned with the procedural and distributive ethical dimensions of and for climate change mitigation.
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report underlines another principle of climate justice which is the “recognition which entails basic respect and robust engagement with and fair consideration of diverse cultures and perspectives”.[14] Alternatively, recognition and respect can be understood as the underlying basis for distributive and procedural justice.
Related fields are environmental justice and social justice.
Examples[edit]
Subsistence farmers in Latin America[edit]
Several studies that investigated the impacts of climate change on agriculture in Latin America suggest that in the poorer countries of Latin America, agriculture composes the most important economic sector and the primary form of sustenance for small farmers.[116][117] Maize is the only grain still produced as a sustenance crop on small farms in Latin American nations.[116] The projected decrease of this grain and other crops can threaten the welfare and the economic development of subsistence communities in Latin America.[118][116] Food security is of particular concern to rural areas that have weak or non-existent food markets to rely on in the case food shortages.[119] In August 2019, Honduras declared a state of emergency when a drought caused the southern part of the country to lose 72% of its corn and 75% of its beans. Food security issues are expected to worsen across Central America due to climate change. It is predicted that by 2070, corn yields in Central America may fall by 10%, beans by 29%, and rice by 14%. With Central American crop consumption dominated by corn (70%), beans (25%), and rice (6%), the expected drop in staple crop yields could have devastating consequences.[120]
The expected impacts of climate change on subsistence farmers in Latin America and other developing regions are unjust for two reasons.[117][121] First, subsistence farmers in developing countries, including those in Latin America are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change[121] Second, these nations were the least responsible for causing the problem of anthropogenic induced climate.[121]
Disproportionate vulnerability to climate disasters is socially determined.[117][121] For example, socioeconomic and policy trends affecting smallholder and subsistence farmers limit their capacity to adapt to change.[117] A history of policies and economic dynamics has negatively impacted rural farmers.[116] During the 1950s and through the 1980s, high inflation and appreciated real exchange rates reduced the value of agricultural exports.[116] As a result, farmers in Latin America received lower prices for their products compared to world market prices.[116] Following these outcomes, Latin American policies and national crop programs aimed to stimulate agricultural intensification.[116] These national crop programs benefitted larger commercial farmers more. In the 1980s and 1990s low world market prices for cereals and livestock resulted in decreased agricultural growth and increased rural poverty.[116]
Perceived vulnerability to climate change differs even within communities, as in the example of subsistence farmers in Calakmul, Mexico.[122]
Adaptive planning is challenged by the difficulty of predicting local scale climate change impacts.[117] A crucial component to adaptation should include government efforts to lessen the effects of food shortages and famines.[123] Planning for equitable adaptation and agricultural sustainability will require the engagement of farmers in decision making processes.[123]