Survey finds that most people believe in climate justice

New global research has revealed that people don’t want developing countries left out of the climate change debate.

Climate change brought about by the burning of fossil fuels is largely driven by the wealthiest nations, while the burden – rising temperatures, sea level increase, food insecurity and environmental degradation – is most keenly felt in developing nations which are poorly equipped to respond.

The latest survey indicates that although most people do not understand the term “climate justice”, related beliefs appear to be widely endorsed across countries.

The survey of people from 11 countries finds that most recognise the social, historical, and economic injustices of the climate crisis, even if they do not consciously connect this understanding with the concept of climate justice.

Dr Charles Ogunbode, an assistant professor in applied psychology at the University of Nottingham in the UK, who led the research, says taking account of climate justice as we respond to a changing climate is key to orientating our societies towards solutions which are fair and equitable.

“It is ironic that research tends to be limited to what people in more affluent regions believe about climate change and climate justice,” he says.

“Citizens of frontline i.e. climate-vulnerable countries, are largely confined to being the subjects of climate discourse, as opposed to active participants.  The unbalanced discourse matches the inequalities that characterise climate change itself.”

Climate change impacts are felt unequally across society and around the globe, and the worst affected groups often have the least say in our responses to climate change. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defined climate justice as linking “development and human rights to achieve a human-centred approach to addressing climate change” and as “safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable people, and sharing the burdens and benefits of climate change and its impacts equitably and fairly.”

Climate change-related policymaking processes also often fail to recognise the interests of marginalised groups, contributing to their further disenfranchisement.

Ogunbode and his team surveyed 5,627 people from 11 countries – including Australia, Brazil, India, Nigeria, and Philippines ]. They found that while 66% of participants had never heard of climate justice before, 78% agreed that poorer people suffer worse impacts from climate change and that people from worst-affected communities should have more of a say in decisions concerning climate change.

In addition, 70% of people agreed that capitalism and colonialism are underpinning elements of the climate crisis.

The researchers acknowledge limitations with the study because it recruited only individuals with digital access, which therefore limits the representation of less privileged groups or people potentially at greatest risk of facing climate injustices.

Nevertheless Ogunbode says that “by revealing the wide endorsement of climate justice principles around the world, we hope that advocates will leverage our research to further pressurise policymakers and leaders to enact just responses to the climate crisis.”

The research appears in the journal Nature Climate Change.