Climate Justice: A Human Approach to Adaptation

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Adanna C. Kalejaye
June 24, 2024

Science is rife that climate adaptation can save between 4 to 10USD on disaster recovery. However, the discourse on climate adaptation in highlighting its benefits and urgency glosses over the fact that adapting to climate change is not only expensive for cities, but also dependent on the adaptive capacity of the city. Whilst a city’s exposure and sensitivity to climate stressors are important determinants in designing effective adaptation strategies, the adaptive capacity to manage those stressors is the most significant element. The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines adaptive capacity as ‘the potential or ability of a system, region, or community to adapt to the effects or impacts of climate change’. This basically means how a city is able to reduce their vulnerability to climate change by enhancing their human and natural systems in such practical ways that enables them to cope with the changes and uncertainties associated with a changing climate. Essentially, the adaptive capacity of a city is hinged on the varying levels of the inter-relationships of economic, technological, political, institutional and social factors that abound in the city.

Needless to say, climate change is affecting and will continue to affect food, water and energy systems and impedes the capacity of the cities across the globe to meet their needs. Sadly, some cities and people will bear a disproportionate portion of the burden because of their low adaptive capacity. Because low adaptive capacity enhances people and a city’s vulnerability to climate risk and greatly intensifies the prevailing social inequities. Typically, areas in cities that are prone to flooding are often inhabited by low-income people in subsidized housing units, who also grapple with inadequate insulation and air conditioning that could ease the severity of the heat or strong storms. For those already underserved and disadvantaged, retrofitting their buildings, flood and fire insurance are comforts they may not afford. Likewise, investing in engineered infrastructures against sea level rise or even managed retreat may not be feasible for low-income developing cities mainly in the global south constrained by their limited economic resources and dependence on natural resources. Their noninvolvement in the activities leading to climate change nonetheless, the reality is that in the past 10 years, cities in low-income countries have experienced eight times as many natural disasters and that by 2050, climate change induced weather disasters may thrust over 200 million people in developing countries to migrate and 130 million people into poverty.

As has been established climate-related risks are not distributed equally especially because of prevailing adaptive capacity, the salient fact is that most of the differences in how climate vulnerability impacts people/cities often stem from oppressive and discriminatory policies, systemic and structural racism, and longstanding marginalization. With the estimated cost of adaptation, the expectation on people whose vulnerability is amplified by their low adaptive capacity to protect themselves from the onslaught of the climate crisis is not justiciable. Climate justice as defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is that “all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income are entitled to equal protection from environmental and health hazards caused by climate change and equal access to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies”.

What justice looks like is first recognizing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on low-income communities, communities of color, developing nations around the world who are least responsible for the climate crisis. Secondly, solutions for climate disaster should be inclusive and address the root causes that are often steeped in social, racial and environmental injustices. The new green deal offers a justiciable solution that would upgrade infrastructures, retrofit buildings, restore ecosystems and provide millions of family-sustaining jobs to build resilience to climate crisis. The appeal of the new green deal is its proposition to redress inequality by ensuring the benefits go to the working class families and communities of color that have been economically and structurally disenfranchised.

Also, it is of utmost importance to not only recognize the wealth of knowledge that comes from indigenous communities but to encourage their participation in the climate discussions and action. Scholarship adduces to the fact that the most effective climate solutions are created at the convergence of indigenous knowledge and western science, so their participation as well as an open, transparent, and accessible collaboration is essential if we hope to achieve climate justice. Quite importantly is that climate adaptation must be carried out through the lens of social justice and equity. Countries and cities that have historically contributed least to the climate crisis but suffer adversely from it must be assisted to adapt. The loss and damage funds where wealthy nations who bear a significant responsibility for the climate crisis and have benefited from it are expected to contribute to the funding purse, which was initiated at the Conference of Parties (COP 28) held in the UAE in December 2023 represents a step in the right direction for addressing climate justice on a global scale.

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Author: Adanna Kalejaye is an internationally specialized lawyer in the fields of commercial law, environmental law, energy law and maritime law. She holds an LL.M (Master of Law) from Swansea University, Wales, UK. She is currently a doctoral candidate and research assistant in Public Policy at the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston. She teaches courses on sustainable development and zero waste at the Osher Life-Long Learning Institute (OLLI) in UMass Boston. Her research interests are in environmental law and policies, climate change, sustainable development, renewable energy, waste management, policy building and analysis at both national and international level. She can be contacted at [email protected].

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