This comprehensive research highlights the multifaceted nature of Climate Justice as perceived by Australian environmental groups.
Introduction
Many environmental and social change groups call for climate justice, but what does ‘climate justice’ actually mean?
We set out to answer this question by reviewing almost 800 websites and documents from Australian environmental groups to see how they describe and act on climate justice.
We found that the growing use of the term ‘climate justice’ reflects increasing awareness that climate change will affect not only our environment but also the social fabric of communities and nations.
Australian environmental groups define climate justice as a complex concept that encompasses ideas of fairness, equity, and ethical responsibility in the context of climate change. It goes beyond simply mitigating carbon emissions; it delves into the distribution of climate impacts, the participation of marginalised communities in decision-making, and the recognition of diverse perspectives and experiences related to climate change.
After reading through all the data that we collected, we found that there is no one single understanding of climate justice in the Australian environmental movement. Climate justice was not seen as a one-size-fits-all concept. We found that environmental groups mentioned six different dimensions, which they emphasised differently based on their mission, values, and goals.
6 Dimensions of Climate Justice
1. Distributive Justice
Many environmental groups highlight the inequitable distribution and disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities across the globe. Groups which apply a Distributive Justice understanding of climate justice emphasise that some communities bear the brunt of climate change and its costs. One statement exemplifies this perspective:
The culture and traditional lifestyles of people living in Yarrabah are threatened by rising sea levels and devastation of the Great Barrier Reef and vital waterways. All this even though they are contributing the least to the intensifying climate crisis. This is why we need climate justice. – Environmental Justice Australia
2. Procedural Justice
This dimension calls for the inclusion of impacted communities in decision-making processes. First Nations people, in particular, are often highlighted as needing greater influence in climate-related decisions.
If we build the power of those who stand to lose the most from inaction on climate change, and work together with these groups, then we can inspire new community-led solutions from the bottom up and ensure better decisions from those in government and business. – Australian Youth Climate Coalition
3. Recognition Justice
This dimension refers to the interaction of climate change with existing forms of disadvantage. Groups communicating about this dimension of climate justice call for recognition and respect for difference, linking climate change to the exacerbation of existing inequalities.
We work from a climate justice perspective and understand that long lasting system change requires challenging the dominant interlinked and mutually reinforcing systems of oppression that we live in and under. – Friends of the Earth Melbourne
4. Relational Justice
This emphasises the importance of fostering collaborative relationships through dialogue and negotiation, arguing that cooperation between groups and communities must purposely aim to advance climate justice. Fair, equal and respectful relationships are seen as essential in developing equitable climate change responses.
With a single vote, states can help ensure Pacific Island nations have a greater voice on the international stage, and provide a legal framework for countries around the globe. – Greenpeace Australia Pacific
5. Intergenerational Justice
Some environmental groups, often youth-focused, express concerns about the impacts of climate change on future generations. They consider what is owed to hypothetical unborn generations and highlight potential human rights violations related to climate change.
Environmental problems like climate change make it imperative for a theory of justice to concern itself with the future well being of children and of people who have not yet been born. A society is intergenerationally just when each generation does its fair share to enable members of succeeding generations, both inside and outside its borders, to satisfy their needs, to avoid serious harm and to have opportunity to enjoy things of value. – Doctors for the Environment
6. Transformative Justice
This dimension focuses on remaking social and institutional inequalities that drive and perpetuate climate change. Some argue that addressing climate justice requires a fundamental shift away from the capitalist global economic system.
The only answer to a politics dominated by a powerful elite is to rebuild a powerful and organised citizenry. We can open-source the creation of a new and better society, even if we have to do so against the will of powerful elites. – Climate Justice Union WA
Most Common Understandings of Climate Justice
We also counted how many times environmental groups mentioned these different dimensions of climate justice. While we found that environmental groups communicated about the full range of dimensions, the most common dimensions used by environmental groups were distributive and procedural justice: 58% of all mentions about climate justice described it as a distributive issue, while 48% described it as a procedural issue.
Figure 1: Most common understandings of climate justice shown as a percentage of all mentions found in Australian environmental group communication.
Finding Resources on Climate Justice
To effectively address climate change and its associated injustices, it is crucial for environmental groups and their followers to have a clear understanding of what climate justice truly means. We were interested in identifying which environmental groups provided resources and information about the term ‘climate justice’ to help their supporters increase their understanding about it.
To explore this question, we analysed 619 websites of a diverse range of Australian environmental groups. Of those websites, 64 used the terms ‘climate justice’ in some way and 15 provided an explanation of how they defined climate justice.
Some environmental groups stood out for their comprehensive descriptions and resources on climate justice. They were:
Climate Justice Union
The Climate Justice Union offers a wealth of information on climate justice, including projects such as the Climate Justice Reading Group, Disability and Climate Change and Climate Psychology Webinars.
Figure 2: Climate Justice Union website. Image from https://climatejusticeunion.org/ 16th September 2023
Friends of the Earth Australia
Friends of the Earth Australia provides both detailed descriptions and additional resources, making it a valuable source for those seeking to explore climate justice comprehensively. They created a document in 2006 called the ‘Climate Justice Primer’ which still contains much information that is relevant today. They also have additional resources and videos.
Figure 3: Friends of the Earth Australia video on climate justice.
Environmental Justice Australia
Environmental Justice Australia offers a nuanced perspective on the concept, which is one of their three key focus areas.
Figure 4: Environmental Justice Australia’s website highlights how climate justice is one of their three key focus areas. Image from https://envirojustice.org.au/our-focus/climate-justice/, copied 17th September 2023
A Complex and Multifaceted Concept
Our research showed that many Australian environmental groups are incorporating ideas and language around climate justice into their advocacy work. With six different dimensions of climate justice being used by these groups, we can see that climate justice is a complex and multifaceted concept which environmental groups play a crucial role in defining and advocating for.
Understanding the various dimensions of climate justice and the perspectives of different environmental organisations is essential for anyone concerned about the future of our planet. By exploring these organisations’ websites and resources, individuals and groups can gain a deeper understanding of climate justice and find valuable tools to advocate for a more just and sustainable world.
Access Resource
Read the full journal article available by open access at npj Climate Action Journal.
How Australian environmental non-governmental organisations frame and enact climate justice
Journal Abstract
“This paper seeks to examine how Australian environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) communicate about and mobilise their supporters for climate justice. ENGOs play an important role in raising awareness and changing values, attitudes and behaviours related to climate justice. However, while many Australian ENGOs have begun incorporating language around climate justice in their communications, it remains unclear how this concept is framed and enacted in practice. Using data collected from 619 ENGO websites and 149 grant applications, we examine how ENGOs describe climate justice and the collective action frames they use to mobilise action. We found that while few ENGOs provided detailed explanations of climate justice on their websites, they primarily framed climate injustice as a procedural and distributive problem. The fossil fuel sector was most commonly identified as the cause of climate injustice, and First Nations communities most commonly affected. ENGOs linked different climate justice dimensions to diverse causes, issues and actions, indicating a nuanced understanding of how climate justice can be enacted in different contexts. However, they primarily proposed incremental tactics involving education, solidarity and allyship behaviours rather than radical actions through which to drive a transformative agenda of social, political or economic change. We conclude the paper with a discussion of applied implications for ENGOs and suggestions for future research.” – Source
Explore Further
- Climate Justice and Feminism Resource Collection
- Why North-South Intersectionality Matters in Climate Justice: Perspectives of South Asian Australian Youth Climate Activists, Sapna South Asian Climate Solidarity group
- Climate Justice needs an Intersectional Approach: Toolkit
- Framing Issues for Social Justice Impact: Directory of Messaging Guides – See section on Climate and Climate Justice
- Four Stages of Climate Action Framework
- Justice, Diversity & Inclusion: Start Here