What is Climate Justice?
One of – if not the – first published uses of the term “climate justice” was in Greenhouse Gangsters vs Climate Justice, by Kenny Bruno, Joshua Karliner and China Brotsky, published by the Transnational Resource & Action Center in 1999.
The concept has been shaped further since then through numerous mass convergences of environmental justice community organizations, activists, and advocacy organizations, and resulting declarations, including the International Climate Justice Network Bali Principles of Climate Justice (2002) and the [U.S.] Environmental Justice Leadership Forum on Climate Change Principles of Environmental Justice (2009.)
The vision and values of climate justice call the entire human family into a deeper relationship of respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people and of our Earth home – and away from systems of domination, exploitation and commodification of people and our Earth home.
The vision and values of climate justice call for systemic changes that address the root causes of the climate crisis and the unequal burden that poor and marginalized communities will suffer due to the climate crisis.
For more information about the history, meaning, and foundations of climate justice, check out:
- The Vision and Just Transition Principles of the Climate Justice Alliance
- The definition provided by the Global Justice Ecology Project
- “Movements for Climate Justice,” by Brian Tokar, 2013, Handbook of the Climate Movement, M. Doetz, ed.
- Movement Generation’s Strategic Framework for a Just Transition Zine!
- Energy Justice Network’s compilation of resources about Environmental Justice / Environmental Racism