Chapter 06 · Governance & regulationDevelopment, Impact & Global Frameworks
Climate justice
Definition
Climate justice is a framing that connects climate change to fairness, rights, responsibility and the unequal distribution of climate harms and capacities.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Climate justice” is defined and used.
Overview
What it means in practice
Climate justice should be read as a development and impact term. Its meaning depends on the affected population, institutional context, geography, evidence base and power relationships involved.
In practice, users should state whose perspective is being considered, what outcome is intended and what limitations apply. That keeps climate justice from becoming a broad claim detached from lived context or evidence.
Why it matters
Climate justice matters because development language can influence funding, accountability, rights, participation and claims about impact. Clear wording helps readers distinguish aspiration, programme design, measured outcome and social context.
Common misconception
A common error is to use Climate justice as universally positive without examining who benefits, who carries risk and who has voice in the decision.
Review questions
Who is affected, who decides and who is accountable? What evidence supports the claimed outcome? What local context or limitation should shape interpretation?
How it is used
The term appears in workplace policy, sourcing, human-rights due diligence, community engagement and supply-chain management, where employers, buyers, suppliers, governments, workers and affected communities use it to classify, assess or communicate a framing that connects climate change to fairness, rights, responsibility and the unequal distribution of climate harms and capacities.
Its correct use depends on the affected population, supply-chain boundary, local context, timeframe and evidence from rights-holders.