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Climate justice is social justice in the Global South

Nature Human Behaviour volume 6, page 1443 (2022)Cite this article

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Climate justice has become prominent in academia, policy circles, and among climate activists, but the notion of justice is highly subjective and climate justice is often invoked without a clear definition of the concept. To achieve climate justice, it is necessary to clarify what it means in specific contexts. The problem of climate (in)justice in the Global South arises from a broader story of social injustices. In this context, I argue that climate justice means social justice.

Social justice is a situation in which (1) burdens and benefits in society are distributed according to a consensual allocation principle; (2) basic human rights and freedoms are upheld by political and decision-making structures; and (3) people are treated with respect and dignity by the authorities and their fellow citizens1. Climate justice links climate change and social justice by highlighting the unequal burden placed on different groups by climate change and emphasizing the need to work towards fair and equitable solutions2. Importantly, climate justice is a critical lens for evaluating mitigation and adaptation efforts. It can help us to identify and avoid climate solutions that exacerbate social inequalities or create new forms of disadvantage.

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  1. School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Charles A. Ogunbode

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  1. Charles A. Ogunbode
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Correspondence to Charles A. Ogunbode.

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Ogunbode, C.A. Climate justice is social justice in the Global South. Nat Hum Behav 6, 1443 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01456-x

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