Climate justice for a just world
In mainstream discussions on climate change, there is a tendency to focus on the environmental dimensions of the issue. Increasingly, however, there is greater recognition of the need to place equal emphasis on human impacts, notably in relation to under-recognised and vulnerable groups in society affected by social injustices and systemic inequalities. These groups contribute the least to global carbon emissions yet are set to suffer the most severe impacts from the climate crisis. Climate justice recognises climate change to be a human rights issue.
The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underpins the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and seeks “a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity”. While there is a specific goal on climate action, focusing on this goal alone won't address the climate crisis; climate justice relies on the achievement of all the goals including those related to justice. Some of the world’s poorest people are particularly exposed to the risks posed by extreme weather events associated with the changing environment. Many women in the Global South constitute the poorest in society and, in rural parts, find themselves highly dependent for their livelihoods on local natural resources and hence, are severely impacted by extreme weather events. In addition, gender-based violence compounds the risks posed to them in the face of ongoing conflicts. The United Nations estimates that, faced with such events, women and children are fourteen times more likely to die than men, due in part to limited access to information, mobility, decision-making and resources.
As UK Head of Delegation in international standards development for the UN SDGs, with an international community of sustainability experts, we are guiding organisations to take climate action alongside gender equality and decent work. In this regard, we recognise that “communities or certain parts of populations are systematically disadvantaged, or discriminated against, based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics” and addressing this injustice involves “listening to their voices, acknowledging their experiences, and working collaboratively to address the issues that disproportionately impact them; the lack of recognition can result from historical marginalization or systemic biases.”
Amartya Sen, an Indian economist awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, presents an alternative approach to mainstream theories on justice and writes about the problems facing society’s poorest members. As set out in his 2009 book The Idea of Justice, he views human rights as universal entitlements of every human being, rooted in our shared humanity rather than privileges granted by a specific nation. He also believes they differ from “constitutionally created rights guaranteed for specific people.”
The UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development specifically references a “respect for race, ethnicity and cultural diversity” in order “to create a just, equitable, tolerant, open and socially inclusive world.” Those of us claiming to pursue a sustainability agenda need to recognise that, in this context, having respect means including people in decision-making to have their voices listened to, and working collaboratively with them to address the adverse impacts and risks they are experiencing.
