Climate change poses an extreme threat to natural environments and people around the world. The world needs a rapid transition away from fossil fuels to prevent dangerous climate change which would threaten people, economies and environments around the world. However this is just half the story of climate justice; the other half is about creating a just future.

Why we need intersectional cross justice

The question of justice is critical for Indigenous peoples worldwide, as it is for peasant and subsistence livelihoods-based communities in the developing world. Many communities are already struggling, caught in a vicious cycle of past, present and future environmental injustices. These struggles have their roots in colonialism, capitalism, and industrialisation. Climate change is another burden for communities living with inter-generational challenges. Even clean energy, when designed entirely for private profit, driven without community consent, and resulting in other environmental or social problems, can multiply environmental injustices. To commit to a just future, we have to tell the other half of the climate justice story with a central focus on the struggles and visions of communities resisting this vicious cycle.

Climate impacts in South Asia

South Asia, a rapidly developing region, is also one of the world’s most climate vulnerable places on account of a large poor, rural, nature-dependent and subsistence-livelihoods-based population who make up to 65% of the population. They stand exposed to various climate hazards. South Asia is also a richly biodiverse area of the world, but these ecosystems are threatened by worsening climate impacts.  

Climate justice in South Asia

Lands and livelihoods of many Indigenous, peasant, rural and subsistence South Asian communities are simultaneously exposed to climate hazards and development-related conflicts. Climate justice movements in South Asia are resisting a vicious cycle of past, present and future environmental injustices and demanding justice in various forms - economic, social, distributive, democracy and rights, consent and livelihood protection. The other half of the climate justice story needs to centre on these.