Developing countries have been witnessing the accelerated impacts of climate change and extreme weather such as global warming. It is known that any pandemic hits the poor and the vulnerable first and makes their situation even worse like the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, the impacts of climate change will not be borne equally by the rich and the poor, which is why the climate cabinet looks at the climate crisis through a common man’s lens. The young climate activists believe that working together to combat the effects of a changing environment can create a better future for coming generations.
Not all climatic changes impact equally on everybody’s life. For example, extreme weather conditions rising sea levels always had disproportionate effects on historically marginalized communities. If you are still wondering what is climate justice? You must be aware that it is more than just a movement that can prevent the adverse effects of climatic changes on the underprivileged population of the planet.
Lakhs of climate activists have been spreading the urgent message to world leaders to start acting for the protection of our planet. As a response, UN Secretary-General has asked for the support of world leaders to take the concerns of the youth activist into consideration and present valuable plans or solutions. The climate justice cabinets consisting of youth activists are exasperated because their older generation has failed to respond to the changing climatic challenges. The youth have increasingly been raising their voices to intensify the intergenerational dialogue on climate action.
Below mentioned are the significant factors to be considered while thinking about climate justice:
1. Recognizing key groups that are differently affected by climate change
The youth climate activists and world leaders have not started connecting the dots between climate change and civil rights. The adverse effects of climatic changes are happening equally on everyone, but their impacts will be born differently by rich and poor, women and men, and older and younger generations. Since no country or community is immune to the change in climatic conditions, it is high time to start acting together for the planet. The most devastating thing is that the victims of these climatic changes are the ones who are least responsible for the cause. For example, the polluting cities and countries discharge harmful emissions into the environment and not the towns and developing countries.
2) Climate impacts can be socially unfair
Low-income communities get most hit by changing climatic conditions and are more susceptible to adverse climatic effects such as raging storms and floods, increasing wildfire, low air quality, access to food and water, and much more.
3) Building climate justice solutions.
The climate justice cabinets have been working day and night to bring together the people of a different race, gender, and class for climate action discussion. But there is no single way to defend the planet until all countries and communities join together and work on all potential solutions to combat climate changes’ adverse effects.
“Be the change you want to see around you!”
