{"id":7358,"date":"2023-10-24T21:04:42","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T21:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/course.fossdle.org\/baccc\/?page_id=7358"},"modified":"2023-10-24T21:04:42","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T21:04:42","slug":"addressing-climate-injustice-part-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/course.fossdle.org\/baccc\/modules\/module-3-climate-justice\/addressing-climate-injustice-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing Climate Injustice – Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Climate Justice Now!, placard, 2018 (cropped)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

In this short introduction to climate justice, it has been hard to cover over 500 years of colonisation and oppression. But we have defined climate justice and looked at examples of climate injustice. It has become clear that climate change disproportionately impacts marginalised communities, including people of colour, low-income populations, Indigenous communities and women and children. This lesson is dedicated to discovering ways in which we can ensure fairness, equity and inclusiveness in our fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect natural resources, and safeguard a safe and habitable world for all.\n<\/p>\n

Climate justice is a reshaping of climate action from a technical effort to cut emissions into an approach that also addresses human rights and social inequality. As industrialised nations and corporations have amassed wealth by burning fossil fuels, many also argue that a \u201cjust\u201d outcome would involve them redistributing more of this wealth towards those having to deal with the consequences. (Gabatiss & Tandon, 2021)\n<\/p>\n

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Lesson Outcomes<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:\n<\/p>\n

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  • distinguish who is responsible for righting the wrong of climate injustice;\n<\/li>\n
  • explore several climate justice strategies, including some that you can implement yourself; and\n<\/li>\n
  • create political will by encouraging your government to address climate justice issues\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    Terminology<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The following terms are important in understanding the science behind climate change. If you want to remember them, write their meanings in your learning journal as you encounter them in the course content.\n<\/p>\n

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    • adaptation\n<\/li>\n
    • high emitters\n<\/li>\n
    • mitigation\n<\/li>\n
    • transfer\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Who is responsible for addressing climate injustice? And who is not?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
      \u201c\n<\/td>\n The injustice of the whole issue of global warming and climate change lies in the fact that those who have contributed nothing to its genesis will suffer the most from its consequences.<\/i>\n<\/td>\n \u201d\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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      \u2014Meles Zenawi, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


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      It has probably become quite clear to you which countries are responsible for righting the wrongs of climate injustice, and which are not:\n<\/p>\n

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      • A key element of climate justice is for high emitters to rapidly reduce our own emissions. By doing so, we leave more space for people who need their emissions to survive, and we lessen their burden in facing increasing impacts of climate change they haven\u2019t caused. \u2014 Professor Kimberly Nicholas, sustainability scientist and writer, Sweden\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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        • The people of the Global South deserve the same quality of life as the people in the Global North, but this remains unachievable for them unless there is a transfer of knowledge, technology and wealth. \u2014 Dr Kaveh Madani, Iranian scientist and activist\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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          • We call for justice because the current crisis is no longer fuelled by ignorance but by wilful greed. \u2014 Adri\u00e1n Martinez, Director, La Ruta del Clima\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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            • In global terms, [climate justice] means that wealthy countries like the US must lead by example when it comes to climate action. \u2014 Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns for ActionAid USA\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              To recap:\n<\/p>\n

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              • \u201cHigh emitters\u201d must reduce their emissions.\n<\/li>\n
              • This is to \u201cleave space\u201d so that un(der)developed countries can still use some of their fair share of fossil fuel energy for mitigation and adaptation strategies (and, we hope, the transition to a virtually zero-carbon energy economy).\n<\/li>\n
              • Without a transfer from the Global North to the Global South of \u201cknowledge, technology and wealth\u201d (which was pledged in the 1992 UNFCCC agreement), this remains unachievable.\n<\/li>\n
              • The injustice to those \u201cfacing increasing impacts of climate change they haven\u2019t caused\u201d is now being caused by \u201cwilful greed\u201d on the part of wealthy nations and individuals, not just ignorance. Repeat: The climate crisis is no longer happening because we do not know better but due to deliberate, intentional, premeditated greed. This is the worst kind of injustice.\n<\/li>\n
              • Wealthy countries need to step up, reduce their own emissions and help other countries at the same time.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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                Which Countries Are Historically Responsible for Climate Change? (1:00)<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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                Watch this video, which is a fascinating look at which country is most responsible for historical CO2 emissions: Which Countries Are Historically Responsible for Climate Change? (1:00) (Note that the year is towards the bottom right. And the \u201ccarbon budget\u201d is the amount of carbon some scientists believe we can still burn. Others say that we used up our carbon budget long ago, and the proof is in the climate emergency already underway.)\n<\/p>\n

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