What is Climate Justice?
Climate justice is an evolving concept. Organisations around the world have articulated the concept in various ways such as:
“Climate Justice is a vision to dissolve and alleviate the unequal burdens created by climate change. As a form of environmental justice, climate justice is the fair treatment of all people and freedom from discrimination with the creation of policies and projects that address climate change and the systems that create climate change and perpetuate discrimination.” Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative
“Climate Justice is a struggle over land, forest, water, culture, food sovereignty, collective and social rights; it is a struggle that considers “justice” at the basis of any solution; a struggle that supports climate solutions found in the practices and knowledge of those already fighting to protect and defend their livelihoods and the environment; a struggle that insists on a genuine systematic transformation in order to tackle the real causes of climate change… Climate Justice addresses four key themes: root causes, rights, reparations and participatory democracy.” Rising Tide North America
A fundamental understanding is that the urgent action needed to prevent climate change must put priority on community-led solutions and the well-being of local communities, Indigenous Peoples and the global poor, as well as biodiversity and intact ecosystems.
Instead of market-based schemes that further environmental and social injustices, the sustainable practices of indigenous peoples and communities can offer real solutions to climate change.
Indeed, we need SYSTEM CHANGE not CLIMATE CHANGE!
“Climate justice is as relevant to Aotearoa as it is everywhere else. We can look to the global climate justice movement and its guiding principles to help us form strategies and proposed alternatives which will tackle the real causes of climate change, and which will ensure we campaign for fair and effective solutions.” Climate Justice Aotearoa
In Aotearoa New Zealand, we have already experienced some of the most extreme weather events in recent years like cyclone Gabrielle, and can expect things to get worse. Already many in our communities are hard hit by rocketing costs of living from food to fuel, resulting from supply problems during the COVID 19 pandemic and the continuing Russian war on Ukraine, and exacerbated by crop failures in different parts of NZ due to storms and floods. These disproportionately hit low income families, Māori and the already disadvantaged groups. As a nation, we are yet to truly honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and right the wrongs of colonisation. Moreover, being a relatively well off nation, we can expect to face greater demand from immigration and climate refugees, and should act responsibly with compassion and generosity.
Below are links to some organizations working on climate justice, degrowth and related issues:
Climate Justice Taranaki 