Understanding climate injustice requires recognizing the significant differences in carbon emissions among various countries and their contributions to global warming. For instance, the average American emits substantially more CO2 than individuals in countries like Nigeria and India. The problem with carbon is that it remains trapped in the atmosphere for centuries. Therefore, it’s not just about how much we add each year; it’s about how much has accumulated over time. Since 1850, that accumulation amounts to approximately 1,500 gigatons.

Researchers calculated how much each country is responsible for pushing CO2 levels beyond the safe threshold we surpassed in 1990. This research considers population size, historical emissions, and emissions related to traded goods. It reveals that wealthy countries have significantly overspent their carbon budgets. Developed nations—particularly in the Global North—are responsible for 92% of the excess CO2 emissions pushing the planet beyond safe levels, while developing regions contribute only 8% (2020). However, living in a country that relies on fossil fuels doesn’t mean climate change is your fault.

That said, individual choices still matter. It’s not just about where you live; it’s also about how much you emit. This disparity in emissions is a significant reason climate activists advocate for justice.

Moreover, climate change is not felt equally across the world – poorer countries are often hit the hardest despite contributing the least to the problem. For example, heatwaves and droughts are becoming increasingly severe in Africa, with droughts creating severe challenges for agriculture. Similarly, warmer air contributes to more powerful hurricanes and typhoons, bringing heavy rainfall and stronger winds to tropical regions. By 2050, sea levels might rise so significantly that floods, which previously occurred once a century, will strike many coastal cities annually.

The challenges of climate change coalesce most harshly in countries like Bangladesh. Despite contributing minimally to global warming, its people are among the most vulnerable. The coastal cities face unprecedented flooding while rivers dry up, leaving farmers struggling to cultivate staples like rice. When flooding occurs in cities, the impoverished population suffers the most.

So, how can we create a fairer situation? Polluting countries should stop adding to CO2 emissions and begin removing ongoing pollution from the atmosphere. Additionally, they could pay reparations for exceeding their fair share of emissions. Some countries and companies are already taking steps in this direction by paying poorer countries to preserve forests and plant trees. However, instead of looking at the carbon saved as a way to address their climate debts, they are using it as an excuse to continue emitting.

While reparations are necessary to balance the scales, they are not sufficient on their own. There needs to be a broader conversation about the global economic system that has fostered these disasters. We must thoroughly overhaul this system. Although reparations may seem radical, wealthy countries have already agreed to assist poorer nations in adapting to climate change, albeit not fulfilling all of their commitments.

An alternative approach that embodies climate justice more literally involves holding polluters accountable in court. After devastating wildfires swept through Portugal in 2017, six young activists took 33 industrial nations to the European Court of Human Rights for failing to cut their emissions quickly enough. They argue that these nations discriminate against young people who will face the consequences of climate change.

The fundamental legal argument for assigning responsibility focuses on individual contributions to the problem—namely, how much one emits, how much one contributes to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, and the potential for contributing to solutions. However, defendants argue that national courts lack the authority to rule on climate issues, given that emissions and international climates are intertwined. But, activists are demanding that wealthy countries take responsibility for climate justice, as many people are unaware of the profound injustices caused by the climate crisis. These affluent nations often overlook that the greater the inequality in the climate crisis, the more they will need to accept the consequences, including the need to welcome climate refugees into their borders. It is time to act by cultivating a deeper understanding of the historical and ongoing responsibilities of all parties involved in the climate crisis.

Source: Media