1.1 Understanding climate justice
Currently, the negative impacts of climate change are not distributed fairly. Countries, people and groups across the globe that lack the financial resources to protect themselves, are more vulnerable and are likely to be suffering first and worst because of climate change. This is where the idea of ‘climate justice’ begins: the adverse impacts of a changing climate will not be felt equally or fairly between rich and poor, women and men, and older and younger generations.
According to the 2016 Climate and Health Assessment [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] , vulnerable groups – also described as populations of concern – include:
…those with low income, some communities of color, immigrant groups (including those with limited English proficiency), Indigenous peoples, children and pregnant women, older adults, vulnerable occupational groups, persons with disabilities, and persons with pre-existing or chronic medical conditions.
Whatever your sector, a good place to start when teaching climate justice is the Climate Impact Map, an evidence-based tool featuring visualisations estimating the impact of climate change around the world and giving a clear indication of the injustice inherent in the climate crisis. Younger students will need to be guided through the messages conveyed by the tool, while older students should be able to explore possible scenarios themselves.