Global study finds people, including those most affected by climate change, don’t understand climate justice

An international study involving people from 11 countries showed that most people, including those in areas most affected by climate change, do not understand the term “climate justice.” However, they recognize the social, historical and economic injustices that characterize the climate crisis. The findings could help shape more effective communications and advocacy.

Researchers from the School of Psychology at the University of Nottingham conducted a study of 5,627 adults in 11 countries (Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom -United States and United States) to assess their familiarity. with the concept of climate justice. This is the first study examining public understanding of climate change outside of Europe and North America. The research was published in Natural climate change.

The findings demonstrate that fundamental recognition of the social, historical, and economic injustices that characterize the climate crisis is common around the world, even if people do not consciously connect this understanding to the concept of climate justice.

Researchers found that two-thirds of people in these countries had never heard of climate justice. The majority of respondents support beliefs related to climate justice, including the idea that the poorest people experience the greatest impacts of climate change (78% agree) and that people from the poorest communities affected should have a greater say in decisions regarding climate change. (78%), and that capitalism and colonialism are the underlying elements of the climate crisis (70%). Endorsement of these climate justice beliefs was also positively associated with engagement in climate actions and support for just climate policies.

Climate justice broadly encompasses the recognition that (1) the impacts of climate change are unequally felt across society; (2) the most affected groups often have the least say in the selection and implementation of societal responses to climate change, and (3) climate change-related policymaking processes often fail to recognize the legitimate interests of politically voiceless communities, thereby contributing to further violence. disenfranchisement of marginalized groups. It is a framework that allows those involved in policymaking to identify and address the multiple ways in which the climate crisis intersects with long-standing patterns of social injustice.

Dr Charles Ogunbode, assistant professor of applied psychology at the University of Nottingham, led the research. He said: “Taking climate justice into account in our response to climate change is essential to steering our societies towards just and equitable solutions. It’s ironic that research tends to be limited to what people in wealthier regions think about climate change. and climate justice. Citizens of frontline countries, that is, climate-vulnerable countries, are largely confined to the topics of climate discourse, as opposed to active participants. The unbalanced discourse corresponds to the inequalities that characterize climate change itself.

“By revealing the broad support for climate justice principles around the world, we hope that climate advocates will leverage our research to further pressure policymakers and leaders to enact just responses to the crisis climate.”