Climate Justice
It is a known fact that communities of color and of poverty— as well as countries in our Global South, will feel the impacts of this climate crisis before the rest of the world and in more damaging ways. In fact, this common knowledge is already presenting itself.
Climate change is something that shows itself over time, and although we have heard the warning signs for years, it is sadly the case, that countries most responsible for the emission of greenhouse gasses are utilizing the luxury and the privilege of treating climate change as a political dodging game rather than the established fact that is.
“There was a real understanding that this is a problem that they are feeling but that they didn’t cause. People living in poverty or living very close to land and sea will feel it first, and often those are people who are not listened to, or whose knowledge is not respected.
As I continue the project in Norway and the U.S., I could sense that people living in more industrialized countries with closer relationships to oil and gas were able to mentally distance themselves from the problem. And to have economic stability or perceived economic stability I think allows people to ignore the problem."-
Greta Rybus, American Photojournalist
Unfortunately, it means those that are suffering the most— are suffering in silence. Between fishermen feeling the effects of fish patterns changing or land farmers no longer producing from the soil they’ve depended on, people who aren’t causing this crisis have to quickly figure out ways to adapt.
The problem?
These communities/populations are not always equipped with the necessary resources, sciences, or culturally appropiate technologies. They might relocate and be forced to adapt to new tools and methods, putting a halt to their production and otherwise steady income.
In a perfect world, we might be able to come together to give these communities the stage to have their stories listened to. But in a world filled with capital interest and an ironic overdependency on fossil fuels, the possibility seems unlikely.
“Developed countries are the major greenhouse gases issuers and the main cause of climate change. In developing countries, people discuss climate change more and more because they are directly affected by its impact. The population comprises farmers, herders, and fishermen, and they are the most vulnerable to climate change.
Climate change is increasing poverty. It is not the only cause of poverty, but it is accelerating it. Unfortunately, we don’t have the choice but to adapt to a phenomenon we didn’t cause.”
— Abdou Sy, climate change scientist, and geographer
This is all to say, we don’t only need massive, federal-level changes and shifts in our behavioral interactions with our environment— we also need a deep understanding of global climate justice and equity. This should involve accountability and an attainable action plan, that is legally binding.
quotes above from https://brightthemag.com/in-senegal-climate-change-is-a-fact-poverty-photography-africa-c87ba4459f77
cover image by https://unsplash.com/@markusspiske