10 Principles of Climate Justice
1. Equity and Fairness: Climate justice advocates for fair and equitable distribution of the burdens and benefits of addressing climate change. It recognizes that marginalized communities, often those with fewer resources and less influence in decision-making processes, bear a disproportionate burden of the impacts of climate change. As such, climate justice seeks to ensure that climate actions and policies do not exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities.
4. Interconnectedness: Climate justice acknowledges the interconnectedness between social, racial, and gender equity and the fight against climate change. Environmental justice issues often intersect with systemic inequalities, including race, class, and gender. Therefore, climate justice advocates work towards dismantling these interconnected systems of oppression while addressing climate challenges.
7. Accountability and Responsibility: Climate justice demands accountability from governments, corporations, and individuals responsible for contributing to climate change and exacerbating its impacts. It calls for holding polluters accountable and ensuring that the most vulnerable communities receive support and resources to cope with the effects of climate change.
10. Intersectional Approach: Climate justice acknowledges that people experience climate change differently based on multiple intersecting identities and social factors. An intersectional approach ensures that climate solutions consider and address these diverse experiences to avoid reinforcing existing inequalities.
2. Inclusive Participation: Climate justice embraces the principle of inclusive participation, aiming to involve all communities, especially those historically excluded or marginalized, in climate decision-making processes. It recognizes that the perspectives and knowledge of those directly affected by climate change are essential for crafting effective and just solutions.
5. Global Solidarity: Climate justice transcends national boundaries and emphasizes global solidarity. It recognizes that industrialized nations, historically responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, have a moral obligation to support and assist developing countries in adapting to the impacts of climate change and transitioning to sustainable development pathways.
3. Human Rights: Climate justice is grounded in the protection and promotion of human rights. It recognizes that climate change threatens various human rights, including the right to life, health, food, water, and shelter. Upholding human rights is at the core of climate justice efforts, particularly for vulnerable populations facing the harshest impacts.
6. Just Transition: Climate justice promotes a just transition towards a low-carbon and sustainable economy. It recognizes the need to support workers and communities that might be affected by the shift away from fossil fuels to ensure they have access to decent work, social protection, and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
8. Resilience and Adaptation: Climate justice recognizes that marginalized communities are often more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their limited access to resources and infrastructure. It emphasizes building resilience and adaptive capacity in these communities to cope with current and future climate challenges.
9. Indigenous Rights and Traditional Knowledge: Climate justice values and respects the rights of indigenous peoples, as they often hold valuable traditional knowledge and sustainable practices that can contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.