Climate justice starter pack
Climate Justice.
It’s a phrase that gets thrown around a lot these days when we’re talking about tackling climate change, but what does it actually mean? And how do we bring a climate justice framing to all of our climate action?
The basics
‘Growing vegetables above the flood’ - Department for International Development / Rafiqur Rahman Raqu
The climate crisis will affect all of us in one way or another, and it’s in all of our best interests to address it. However, the effects of climate change will not be felt by everyone equally. Existing social divisions such as class, location, gender, race and disability mean that some people and communities are feeling the effects of the climate crisis sooner and more severely than others. Often these communities are those who bear the least responsibility for the crisis, such as poorer communities in the Global South. For instance, if you were born in Uganda or Malawi, two of the most food insecure nations globally, where extreme weather and rising temperatures are wreaking havoc on food supplies, your carbon footprint is likely to be over 750 times lower than that of an individual from the 10 most polluting nations. [1] These nations include rich countries such as the USA, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. The need to understand and address these intersections of climate and social inequalities are what we mean when we talk about climate justice.
Want to learn more?
Below are some of our favourite resources for beginning to explore climate justice. Why not pick one to read or watch and discuss with a friend?
1. Climate change, racism, and climate justice - Ilyas Nagee (NUS)
This article is a great place to start, if you want to know how race and birthplace impact how vulnerable we are to the climate crisis. From sea level changes in the Pacific Islands to the Flint water crisis in the US, people of colour across the world are often unfairly impacted by climate change. If you want a quick, simple explanation of the intersection between racism and climate change, this is the place to start.
2. The World at 1°c
The World at 1°c is filled with amazing climate justice articles, blogposts, and interviews. We especially love A guide to climate violence, a great longform article on how ‘extreme atmospheric conditions’ collide with ‘acute social realities’, such as poverty, poor infrastructure, and gender. Another great resource from The World at 1°c is Negotiating who lives and who dies: an interview with Asad Rehman, a hard-hitting discussion of how power, politics and economics affects our handling of the climate crisis.
3. Let them drown: the violence of othering in a warming world - Naomi Klein
An excellent and far-reaching essay covering ‘green colonialism’, human rights, and fossil fuel extraction - and why we need to understand all of them if we’re to tackle climate change.
It’s pretty long, but the good news is you can listen to a recording, read by Klein herself. Perfect for those of us with busy schedules who want to learn while we get on with our days.
4. Climate change is a social justice issue (video)
An exploration of the connections between climate change and social justice, through the lens of storytelling. Adriana Laurent describes her personal experience of the impacts of climate change in her home country, Honduras, and explains how climate change will impact the most marginalised across the world.
5. 9 Climate Activists of Color You Should Know
Need a dose of hope? Greta’s not the only young person leading the climate movement. From water protector Autumn Peltier of the Anishinabek Nation, to Thomas Lopez of Standing Rock, check out these nine amazing young activists on the frontlines of the fight for climate justice.
Think we’ve missed something?
If you know of any more resources that you think should be on the list, please drop us an email.
Notes:
Action Aid (2019) ‘Hunger Strike: The climate and food vulnerability index’, christianaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-07/Hunger-strike-climate-and-food-vulnerability-index.pdf
