Global Climate Crisis Seeking Environmental Justice and Climate Equality
Chapter 7
Working through the complexity of environmental justice
Hoda Mahmoudi, Kate Seaman
The final chapter of the book addresses how the actions of mass contributors to climate change affect those that contribute least to it. In order to progress towards climate justice there must be recognition of the immense effect climate change has on marginalized and vulnerable communities. The issue rises not just from resource distribution, but from the lack of inclusivity in policy making initiatives about climate governance.
This chapter reviews the topics and themes from the previous chapter and connects them all to the central theme of consumers being held responsible for the waste they are emitting, and using their power to protect marginalized communities. Philosopher Harry Shue presents three principles to enact this change.
Those who have made the greater contribution to a problem that causes harm, and who have also received a benefit from that contribution, have an obligation to rectify it
All of whom are bound to contribute to some common endeavor, the parties who have the most resources should contribute more to the solution
Don't impose more harm on those who have already suffered
Ensuring environmental justice requires work outside of institutional reforms, to understand the multifaceted, intersecting nature of the problem.
About the Author
Nina is the Research Intern for The Bahá’í Chair for World Peace. She is a junior at The University of Maryland on the Pre-Law track pursuing a dual major in Psychology and Theatre.
