A Beginner’s Guide to Climate Justice
- Rachel Bailleau
- Sep 21
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 27
What is Climate Justice?
When people talk about “climate change,” they often focus on greenhouse gases, rising temperatures, and extreme weather. But there’s another layer to the story: climate justice. This means admitting the causes and impacts of climate change are not shared equally, and considering how we can respond to the environmental crises in ways that are fair for everyone.
Climate justice asks:
Who has contributed most to climate change and biodiversity loss?
Who is suffering the most today? Who has suffered in the past? Who is likely to suffer in the future?
Who has the power and resources to make positive change?
Whose voices should be listened to when making decisions about climate change?
It’s not just about the environment. It’s about people, power, and responsibility.
Is Eco-Anxiety Only for the Wealthy?
Sometimes people ask whether eco-anxiety is a problem for the wealthy and privileged. After all, if you’re busy trying to keep a roof over your head or put food on the table, worrying about the planet might not be your top priority.
There is some truth in that. Some people are working in survival mode and don’t have the capacity to think about the future. But these things are also true:
People who contributed the least to climate change are often hit the most brutally.
Poorer communities can’t always afford to adapt, whether that means air conditioning during heatwaves, rebuilding after floods, or buying food when prices rise due to crop failures.
Most people in the world have never even been on a plane, yet they’re already experiencing the consequences of carbon emissions.
Yes, those in survival mode may not have time to dwell on climate change. That’s exactly why those of us who do have resources, like the money or time to act, carry a responsibility to do something.
Climate Change, Capitalism, and Social Justice
Climate change has deep historical roots. The Industrial Revolution was powered by coal, oil, and gas. This is when climate-warming emissions began to be released at scale. But it wasn’t just about energy and technology. Millions of people were kidnapped into slavery and taken to faraway continents. Wealth and industrial growth were built on the backs of enslaved people and colonised communities.
Natural resources were exploited too. Ancient forests were cut down and shipped to wealthy countries, and species were driven to extinction for their valuable furs. The people and ecosystems of some countries were exploited to make others wealthy. At the same time, we destabilised our climate.
The countries that industrialised first (the UK, the US, and much of Europe) not only emitted the most greenhouse gases historically but also accumulated wealth and power by exploiting people and ecosystems elsewhere.
This is why climate change is a social justice issue. It’s not just about pollution or extreme weather; it’s also about inequality.
Extractive vs Circular Economy
The patterns of exploiting people and stealing resources that started during the Industrial Revolution continue today in the form of our economy.
We have an "extractive economy": We take resources, use them, throw them away. This has been the dominant model under capitalism. You only have to look at the pictures of beaches piled high with clothing that was only worn a few times to see this in action.
We need a "circular economy": Where we reuse, repair, recycle, and share resources to reduce waste and pollution. Ideally, nothing ends up as waste; it becomes a raw material for something else. For example, old clothes can be shredded and turned into insulation for houses, new textiles, or cleaning cloths. Food scraps can be composted to enrich soil, and old electronics can be dismantled so valuable metals are reused rather than mined again.
We need to transform our current extractive economy into a circular economy to truly address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and exploitation of people. It’s not going to be easy, but it is absolutely possible.
The thing is, talking about this economic problem isn’t very popular and tends to annoy people who are benefiting from the extractive economy. Greta Thunberg, for example, gained global attention as a teenager striking from school. But when she began openly connecting climate breakdown to capitalism and inequality, her media coverage declined sharply. Today, she continues her activism (including taking direct risks, like sailing to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid) but with far less media spotlight. That in itself shows how uncomfortable it is for powerful systems when climate justice is taken seriously.
Why Can’t We Separate Climate From the Economy?
It might sound simple: just switch to renewable energy and climate change will be solved. But climate change isn’t just an “energy problem.” It’s a systems problem.
Here’s why:
Consumption levels: Even with 100% renewable energy, endless growth in production and consumption would still destroy ecosystems through mining, pollution, and waste.
Unequal benefits: A green economy that keeps the same structures of inequality in place will still exploit some people and places while protecting others.
Profit-driven logic: Our current economy is built around maximising profit, not well-being. That means companies are rewarded for extracting, consuming, and selling more, even if it harms people and the planet.
And then there’s the bigger moral question:
If you use “green” energy to power tanks that kill people, we’ve missed the point.
If solar panels are made in factories where workers are underpaid or unsafe, we’ve missed the point.
If electric cars replace petrol cars but public transport, walking, and cycling remain neglected, we’ve missed the point.
If renewable energy farms are built on Indigenous land without consent, we’ve missed the point.
Sustainability isn’t just about green tech or low emissions. It’s about creating a world where people can have a safe and prosperous life, where wildlife thrives, and where the climate is stable. That’s the goal we’re aiming for. Systems change means moving away from a model that sees nature and people as expendable, and toward one that values care, balance, and fairness. No pressure!
Historic vs Current Emissions
Another key concept in climate justice is responsibility for emissions:
Historic emissions: The UK, US, and Europe have burned fossil fuels for centuries, building wealth while releasing most of the carbon that still warms the atmosphere today.
Current emissions: Countries like China and India now emit large amounts each year. But on average, people in wealthier countries still use far more energy and resources per person than those in poorer countries.
When we compare fairly, it’s clear: wealthy countries bear the greatest responsibility for both causing and addressing climate change.
Climate Scapegoating
It’s easy to point fingers at countries like India for using coal. But there’s a bigger picture:
Governments there are prioritising access to energy for billions of people.
This isn’t just about comfort, it’s about survival. Electricity powers hospitals, keeps vaccines cold, pumps water, and prevents food from spoiling before it reaches people.
The question is not whether poorer countries deserve energy (they do), but how the global community can support clean, affordable, and accessible energy for everyone. (We can).
We’re getting close: in many regions, solar and wind are already cheaper than coal or gas. The task now is to scale these solutions everywhere, so clean energy becomes the natural choice and people can still access power.
Climate Reparations
You may also hear the term climate reparations. This means compensation from wealthy, polluting countries to those most harmed by climate change.
Why?
Because countries that contributed least to the problem are facing the most severe impacts, from rising seas to droughts to storms.
Justice means those who caused the damage should help pay to fix it.
What’s happening now?
The idea has been debated for decades.
In 2022, countries agreed to set up a “Loss and Damage” fund at the UN climate talks. But funding is still minimal, and rich countries often resist paying their fair share.
So climate reparations remain a live, contentious issue, but one that’s central to climate justice.
Final Thoughts on Climate Justice
Climate justice is about recognising that climate change is not just an environmental issue. It’s a human issue. It’s about fairness, responsibility, and solidarity across borders and generations.
At its heart, sustainability isn’t just about switching to “green” energy. It’s about creating a world where people can have a safe and prosperous life, where wildlife thrives, and where the climate is stable. That’s the world we want to work toward, and eco-anxiety can be a spark to help us get there.
But if we get too overwhelmed by climate anxiety, it can make us shut down and give up. That’s why it’s important to cultivate hope and joyfulness alongside the difficult feelings we have about climate change. If we take care of ourselves, we will have the stamina needed to keep fighting for a fairer, healthier and safer world.
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