What is climate justice?

Climate justice does not literally mean ‘justice for the climate’.

Climate justice is understanding that the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue alone, but also a socioeconomic, political and human rights issue.

Protect and empower communities and individuals who are more vulnerable to climate impacts for full participation in the formation of solutions

Those severely affected are those who pollute least.

The impact of the climate crisis is different for everyone. Poor and marginal communities are more vulnerable to greater risks. For example, after a flood or drought disaster, low economic status cause wider poverty and inequality gap.

Poor countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines face more extreme hurricane risks due to climate change, yet their carbon emissions are 3% and 6% respectively of the total per capita carbon emissions of the United States, one of the world’s largest carbon polluters.

Intervention in gender dimension

Women and men play different social roles in society, therefore, have different responsibilities and needs. They have different access to assets such as training, banking, technology and land ownership rights.

Example:

Rural women are highly dependent on agricultural products from their land. Male dominance over technologies such as the use of machinery and pesticides, erodes women’s knowledge and skills in terms of crop production, income and property ownership rights.

This situation has made women lose their source of income.

Climate change is reducing agricultural production, which is a source of income for women. Deterioration of forest produce also reduces the yield of traditional medicine that is often practiced by indigenous women.

Protect future generations

Intergenerational injustice exists when the older generation do not want to shape a secure future for young people.

Most of the policies formed do not have enough consultation and participation from the youth.

The formation of policies that are based on short-term profits alone, by placing the burden of pollution and finance on young people is irresponsible.

Youth are the mandate of the country.

Achieve equal rights between developed and developing countries to generate economic growth and low carbon future

The carbon footprint of developed and developing countries are unequal.

Developed countries have been building their wealth and economy on fossil fuels for hundreds of years. Now, the awareness to generate a green and low -carbon future is becoming increasingly real.

However, global carbon emission reduction can only be done if it is done fairly; that is, there is a mechanism that allows all developing countries to achieve new and sustainable development in line with NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions).

To achieve the objective of Article 3 of the Paris Agreement; which is to increase the contribution of carbon reduction, developing countries must have global support in terms of investment, finance, technology, training and so on.

However, this support has not been obtained, and developing countries are still relying on fossil fuels to power their economy until 2050.

Emphasize on prevention principles in mega development projects and community consumption trends

Who is responsible for managing the environment?

Human over-exploitation of natural resources that cause destruction of biodiversity and extinction of species is a problem of social, ethical and economic system exploitation.

This prolonged destruction has already put us at the ‘tipping point’, which is a crossroads between the collapse of the human system due to the destruction of nature AND the prosperity of our society, living in harmony with nature.

What do we want?