Climate Justice


Climate justice redefines climate change as both an ethical and political matter and acknowledges the interconnectedness of climate change, justice, and environmental and social equity. Climate justice advocates for a people-centric approach to climate action and emphasizes representation, inclusion, and prioritizing climate risk reduction for vulnerable communities.  Advancing climate justice will mitigate climate change and ensure a fair and sustainable future for all.


The impacts of climate change are vast and far-reaching, with global consequences that will affect all human systems, and creating conditions that could potentially displace hundreds of millions by 2050. Marginalized communities face disproportionate impacts from climate change, as historically, they have been concentrated in environmentally hazardous areas.


Climate justice lies at the intersection of climate action and environmental justice movements. Climate justice activism has spanned decades and generations from the 1960s Fish Wars, where local Indigenous tribes fought against the criminalization of hunting and fishing, to Fridays for Future, a youth-led and organized global climate strike movement; the fight for climate justice continues to be movement of collective liberation and action to address environmental injustices and the threat of climate change. 


Climate justice seeks to make visible the communities disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change. Marginalized communities often reside in areas with higher exposure to pollution, extreme weather events, and inadequate infrastructure. For example, residents of Louisiana's Cancer Alley, who are predominantly Black Americans, face severe risk of cancer and elevated health burdens due to exposure to deadly environmental hazards. Black Americans are 40% more likely to reside in regions vulnerable to extreme weather-related deaths, and 78% of all African Americans live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant. 


In the United States today, climate justice is gaining recognition as a crucial framework for addressing climate change, particularly among grassroots movements, environmental organizations, and progressive policymakers. However, significant disparities persist in terms of decision-making power that prioritizes justice for marginalized communities disproportionately affected by climate impacts. 


Fundamental to climate justice is to lift and center people with lived experience of climate precarity and impacts in decision-making founded on mutual respect and justice. To advance climate justice, tailored interventions and strategies for specific priority populations are crucial in centering affected community members in decision-making. Climate justice recognizes the intersectionality of these challenges and advocates for equitable policies and practices for a systems transformation. 


Changemakers and stewards can influence climate justice at scale in the U.S. by advocating for policy reforms that prioritize the needs of marginalized communities, supporting grassroots movements, and holding governments and corporations accountable for their actions. Promoting system changes that address the root causes of climate injustice, such as unequal distribution of resources and environmental racism, can contribute to creating a more equitable and sustainable future for all. 

Resources & Tools


In Solidarity with Maui: Taking Action for Wildfire Response, Recovery, and Prevention
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 08/24/2023
Screen capture of H.R. 2919 - THRIVE Act
H.R. 2919 - THRIVE Act
Resource - Legislation
Brought to you by Congressional Research Service
Cover page of Guide to Equitable, Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning
Guide to Equitable, Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Screen capture of An Indigenous Systems Approach to the Climate Crisis article
An Indigenous Systems Approach to the Climate Crisis
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by SSIR
Screenshot of the front page of Climate Justice
Climate Justice
Resource - Website/webpage
Thumbnail image for Incorporating Principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Climate Adaptation Planning
Incorporating Principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Climate Adaptation Planning
Resource - Webinar
Brought to you by CDC
Published on 02/24/2022
The Environmental Justice Movement
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Natural Resources Defense Council
First page of The Role of Business in Supporting Thriving Natural World business brief
The Role of Business in Supporting a Thriving Natural World
Resource - Policy Brief
Brought to you by WIN Network
Published on 02/25/2021
Screen capture of MIT Climate Primer webpage
MIT Climate Primer
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by MIT
First page of Climate Change is a Threat Multiplier for Violence Against Children. article
Climate Change is a Threat Multiplier for Violence Against Children
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by Elsevier, Inc.
Screen capture of The Next System Project: Environment and Energy
The Next System Project: Environment and Energy
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by The Democracy Collaborative
Screen shot of the youtube page
We Belong to the Earth and We Belong to Each Other: Connection, Climate, and Global Belonging,
Resource - Webinar
Brought to you by Othering and Belonging Institute
Screen grab of Climate Change and Health Research Hub
Climate Change and Health Research Hub
Resource - Data Bank/repository
Cover page of Energy Efficiency with Justice report
Energy Efficiency with Justice
Resource - Report
Screenshot of the front page of The Fish Wars: Strategies for Taking Action
The Fish Wars: Strategies for Taking Action
Resource - Website/webpage
Screen capture of People Who’ve Contributed Least to Climate Change Are Most Affected By It article
People Who’ve Contributed Least to Climate Change Are Most Affected By It
Resource
Brought to you by The Pew Charitable Trusts
Screen capture of People's Climate Innovation Center Resource Library webpage
People's Climate Innovation Center Resource Library
Resource - Data Bank/repository
Screenshot of the front page of Climate Change
Climate Change
Resource - Blog
Photo of a group of people at a climate action protest with signs that say
Taking Action for Climate Justice: Our Top Tools, Resources, Stories, and Data
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 02/20/2024
Screen capture of Uncovered: A Hidden Crisis in U.S. Housing article
Uncovered: A Hidden Crisis in U.S. Housing
Story - Written
Brought to you by Bloomberg L.P.
Published on 03/05/2024
Atlanta’s Inclusive Plan to Address Impacts of Changing Climate, Demographics
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
Screen grab of With Environmental Rollbacks, Communities of Color Continue to Bear Disproportionate Pollution Burden
With Environmental Rollbacks, Communities of Color Continue to Bear Disproportionate Pollution Burden
Story - Written
Brought to you by State Energy & Environmental Impact Center
Screen capture of How Everyday People Started a Movement That's Shaping Climate Action to This Day article
How Everyday People Started a Movement That's Shaping Climate Action to This Day
Story - Written
Brought to you by NPR
Published on 10/05/2023
This American Life Podcast Page
Hot In My Backyard
Story - Audio
Staff Pick!
Our Favorite Equity Data Tools
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Screen capture of Unequal Impact: The Deep Links Between Racism and Climate Change article
Unequal Impact: The Deep Links Between Racism and Climate Change
Story - Written
Brought to you by Yale University
Published on 06/09/2020
Screen capture of Why Investing in Libraries is a Climate Justice Issue
Why Investing in Libraries is a Climate Justice Issue
Story - Written
Brought to you by High Country News
Published on 09/13/2021
Photo of the Young Black Climate Leaders 2023 Cohort with People's Climate Innovation Center Staff
Centering Young Black Leaders in the Face of a Looming Climate Crisis
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 02/22/2024
Screen capture of Illinois Shows Us What the Road to Clean Energy Should Look Like
Illinois Shows Us What the Road to Clean Energy Should Look Like
Story - Written
Brought to you by Natural Resources Defense Council

Data & Metrics


Hero image of Public Health and Equity Resource Navigator
Public Health and Equity Resource Navigator
Library
Published on 10/22/2021

 Related Topics


Card image
Climate Crisis

Card image
Thriving Natural World

Card image
Environmental Justice

Card image
Clean Air

Card image
Health Equity