What is Climate Justice and Why is it so Important?

You may have heard the term “Climate Justice” being thrown around before in many scenarios. You may have even heard the phrase “Climate Justice = Social Justice”, but what does “Climate Justice” really mean anyway? 

Climate justice is a term used to frame the climate crisis as not just an environmental issue but as an ethical and political issue. It means relating the causes and effects of the climate crisis to ideas of social justices.

In order to achieve Climate Justice we must first acknowledge that the devastating effects of the climate crisis will not be fairly or equally distributed. Already, millions of people are suffering due to the climate crisis on a daily basis. Those are the poorest communities and minorities in some of the least developed places in the world, not the businesses and governments who make masses of money from the fossil fuel industry. 

Richer places like the UK and North America make hundreds of millions from the oil industry every year and often experience climate change as hotter summers and beach days. The poorer and less developed places, on the other hand, who are significantly less responsible for the climate crisis, are experiencing drought after drought as well as unstable weather patterns which are making it increasingly difficult to grow crops, fish or make money.

Unequal effects of the climate crisis are also commonly seen when looking at other social inequalities and minorities such as BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as many others. These are the groups more likely to be living in poverty or less developed areas, as a result of discrimination, and so they are more vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis than other richer and more privileged groups.

All in all, it is clear that climate justice could not be more important as it not only means climate action but also means social equality and justice. The unfair adverse effects of the climate crisis towards minorities show that it has deep roots in social inequalities. In order to prevent further climate catastrophe we must not only acknowledge these social inequalities, but see complete social justice: Climate Justice = Social Justice.