"Climate change takes any problem you already had, any threat you were already under, and multiplies it. Climate change is not the great equaliser, it is the great multiplier," - Mary Annaise Heglar.
‘Climate justice’ recognises that the climate emergency has been created by same system that oppresses people and causes inequality. The effects of climate change exacerbate current global inequalities. The Global North is responsible for the majority of the causes of climate change, while the Global South feels most of the effects.
The increase in extreme weather events is endangering those living in more precarious or neglected environments. There will be more climate refugees as the situation worsens, so the climate emergency cannot be separated from issues around migration and hostile environments.
Many problems exacerbated by the climate have a long history in colonialism. The stealing and degradation of indigenous land and the introduction of foreign crops are threatening food security. The colonialist mindset continues as richer countries outsource their responsibilities- through moving manufacture of goods abroad, to dumping waste in poorer countries.
This programme will be exploring the impact of the climate emergency on justice issues and how we can respond.