In a small coastal village, Binti, a mother of three, wakes up before dawn to check on what remains of her home. The rising sea has already swallowed half of the village, forcing families to move further inland, where land is scarce and resources are limited. Just a few years ago, Binti’s husband was a fisherman, the only breadwinner in their family. Now, the fish have disappeared, and the once-thriving community is struggling to survive.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, industries continue to emit greenhouse gases, creating enormous wealth for investors while driving the climate crisis that is devastating communities like Binti’s. These communities have contributed the least to the problem yet suffer the most. This stark inequality is at the heart of climate justice—a principle that acknowledges that those least responsible for climate change often pay the highest price.
Climate justice highlights that the effects of climate change are not distributed equally. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defines climate justice as “putting equity and human rights at the core of decision-making and action on climate change.” Organizations such as Earth.Org and the Laudato Si Movement (LSM) echo this sentiment, emphasizing the deep interconnection between humanity and the environment.
Climate change exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities, disproportionately affecting poor and marginalized groups, particularly in developing nations. These communities are often ill-equipped to adapt to changing climatic conditions or recover from climate-related disasters, making them even more vulnerable to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and infrastructure damage.
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Principles of climate justice
Climate justice serves as a framework to address the social, political, and ethical dimensions of climate change. By advocating for an equitable distribution of climate burdens and benefits, activists seek to prevent marginalized communities from being disproportionately affected. Key principles of climate justice include:
1. Human rights-based approach
Climate change threatens fundamental human rights, including access to food, water, shelter, healthcare, and livelihoods. Vulnerable populations—such as women, children, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities—are particularly at risk. The right to a healthy environment and the rights of climate refugees, who are forced to migrate due to climate-induced disasters, must be prioritized in climate policies.
2. Accountability and responsibility
Climate justice demands that those most responsible for the crisis—high-emission industries, developed nations, and fossil fuel firms—are held accountable. Transparency in climate action and enforcement of climate commitments are crucial. One example of accountability is the Polluter-Pays Principle, introduced by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1972. This principle holds high-emission countries and corporations financially responsible for their environmental impact, compelling them to reduce emissions and contribute to climate adaptation funds.
3. Equity and fairness
While climate change affects everyone, it does not do so equally. Poorer nations and marginalized groups experience the worst consequences despite contributing the least to greenhouse gas emissions. Climate justice calls for fair resource distribution, including climate finance, disaster relief, and access to clean technologies. Additionally, a just transition ensures that workers and communities reliant on fossil fuels receive financial and social protection as the world shifts to greener economies.
4. Intergenerational justice
Sustainability means meeting present needs without compromising the future. Climate justice emphasizes that today’s decisions must not create a legacy of environmental disasters for future generations. Long-term climate planning, environmental stewardship, and youth involvement are essential to ensuring a livable planet for those who come after us.
The Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025 is centered on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” As the world grapples with crises like climate change, the theme serves as a reminder that hope is still within reach. By embracing the principles of climate justice, today’s generation can be seen as Pilgrims of Hope—not only stewards of the environment but also advocates for social and economic equity.
For individuals like Binti, who find themselves climate refugees through no fault of their own, climate justice offers a path forward—a chance for a fairer, more sustainable world where communities are protected, and responsibilities are shared equitably.
DISCLAIMER: All names used in this article are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual individuals, alive or dead, is purely coincidental.
