Climate Justice is about putting equity and justice at the heart of all climate change related decisions and actions.[1] It seeks a more just, liveable, and vibrant world in which all beings can thrive.[2] Climate justice recognises climate action as an ethical and political issue, rather than solely an environmental or technical one, because climate change and its unequal impacts result from intertwining social, political, economic, cultural, and ethical choices. So climate justice is about ensuring decisions and actions address the intersecting crises of climate change, ecological degradation, and widening inequalities, with mutually beneficial solutions that do not perpetuate or exacerbate those injustices now or into the future. It requires combining adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development in ways that address or even end, the root causes of social and ecological injustices.[3] So climate justice is as concerned with how the work is done, as much as what is done, including who is involved, how, and who is accountable. It centres those most impacted or at risk, because they have the most at stake and know what’s needed.
Climate justice matters because climate change and our responses to it, don’t impact everyone or everything equally. Without addressing the root drivers of climate change, social inequities, and environmental injustice together, climate change and our responses to it will continue to undermine fundamental determinants of good health, including a healthy natural world, healthy food, socio-economics, culture, community wellbeing, and housing. Climate justice matters because, without care, efforts to stop greenhouse gas emissions, such as changing energy industries or transport systems, could also worsen or entrench social inequities and environmental injustices. It matters because marginalised and underserved communities already dealing with such inequities, face entrenched, worsened, or even new inequities. And this is not fair. It matters because climate justice approaches can lead to actions that meet everyone’s needs, including the natural world, enable more sustainable outcomes, reduce trade-offs, and help prevent social tensions and conflicts.
We can support climate justice through efforts as diverse as:
A wellbeing economy
Ensuring that the work is truly just, means we also need to ensure the above work:
Has diverse and inclusive decision-making and action
Is driven by the climate resilience work of diverse communities and the organisations that serve them (e.g. Banksia Gardens Community Services and WellSprings for Women), and
Advocates for policies and laws that address climate change and social and environmental inequalities together, including inter-generational and inter-species justice. E.g. Environmental Justice Australia and Federation of Community Legal Centres
[1] UNDP (2023) Climate change is a matter of justice – here’s why.
[2] Mease & Lemma (2023) Systems, Not Just Symptoms: Bringing a justice frame to climate philanthropy and finance
[3] UN OHCHR (2024) Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to development - Climate justice: loss and damage.