‘Climate’ as such is a geographical term that is used to depict the average weather conditions of a place over a long period of time. ‘Justice’ is a term that refers to granting fair treatment for all. But when these two terms are combined together, they form a stronger and important concept of Climate Justice. It is more like an integration of environmental issues like climate change, global warming, etc. into a political or ethical sense.
Climate Justice is seen on a conceptual basis. It integrates equality, human rights and historical responsibilities to climate change. It is a known factor that the Developed Nations of the present were the ones who became industrialized longer ago and this sole factor makes them the major contributors to climate change. But the cons of climate change is being faced by all the nations, irrespective of their GDP. Hence, Justice can be served to those Underdeveloped and developing countries only if the developed countries are to share greater responsibilities in mitigating the Climate Change issues. This is the soul of the concept of Climate Justice.
Climate Justice is more than just a term. It is like a movement similar to the LGBTQ, Human Rights, Black Lives Matter and so on. Any kind of Climate Change and its impacts like sea-level rise, coastal erosion, habitat destruction etc. are affecting the underprivileged populations more. But the major contributors to these changes are the large Corporates and Industries.
There are different ways adopted for mitigating Climate Change. It is being funded by the Government (taxpayer’s money). This is where Climate Justice comes into action. We cannot say that the Equal distribution of responsibilities to mitigate Climate Change effects are well and enough. In fact, it is unjustly to do so. Here, Equitable Distribution of responsibilities should be made and that too, a chunk of the responsibilities been bestowed upon the Developed Nations as well as the Multi-National Corporates who have been accumulating wealth with Nature at its cost.
UNO and its allied organizations have been acting in order to combat the effects of Climate Change. Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) has asked for immediate curbing on emissions in order to limit global warming to well below 2° above the pre-industrial levels. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, the UNO has brought forward a new agreement which speculated the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) wherein the member nations were given the freedom to specifically set up targets of their own for achieving Carbon Neutrality. These adaptations come in line with the concept of Climate Justice.
It is a well-known fact that Climate change mitigation and allied activities come at the cost of a nation’s economic development. In order to make the development projects eco-friendly, a large sum of the investment has to be spared. This hinders the overall Economic Development of that country. Hence, the developing and underdeveloped nation’s cannot, and should not be forced to achieve a particular as well as Universal target for the same.
Climate Justice puts forward the theory of COMMON BUT DIFFERENTIATED RESPONSIBILITIES. It not only puts the responsibility of ‘Climate Rescue’ upon the developed but also provides a door for the uplifting of poorer countries. It can help in reducing the rich-poor difference between the nations.
While considering the net carbon emissions of a country, the total Carbon emissions are not taken. Instead, the per capita carbon emissions are taken into consideration. This gives more authenticity to the method.
The UNO has taken very necessary steps towards promoting Climate Justice. More can be done towards the same by:
- Providing financial assistance to poorer countries.
- Making Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) mandatory as well as it’s strict enforcement.
- Promoting the concept of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities.
- Strengthening the involvement of the developed countries.
- Create a rigid and clearer picture about Climate Justice.
