“[A] true ecological approach… must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”  — Pope Francis, Laudato si’: 49

By Louie Bacomo

Ecological justice acknowledges that environmental and social issues are inextricably linked. Neither can be solved without addressing the other.

Based on the principle that everyone has an equal right to a healthy environment, ecological justice means that all living things, including people and nature, must be treated fairly and with respect.  Among other things, it advocates economic growth that does not harm nature and people, especially the poor who are already suffering the most from ecological damage. It calls for environmental benefits and burdens to be shared fairly and for marginalized groups to be able to participate in decision-making processes.

Genuine ecological justice cannot be achieved without confronting the colonial history that has led to the climate crisis. For centuries, wealthy nations have built their fortunes by exploiting the Global South. They dismantled local cultures and cleared vast natural resources using enslaved labour. This has brought us to staggering levels of carbon emissions today.

Various studies show that Java in Indonesia lost half of its forest in just a century; logging and agriculture decimated Madagascar’s major forests in just 30 years; destroyed lands in Brazil and Caribbean became breeding grounds for epidemics like yellow fever and malaria that killed entire populations. This pattern of exploitation continues today with growth-fueled economic development centred in urban areas. A recent study published in Nature Communications shows that 44 out of the 48 largest coastal cities in the world are experiencing land subsidence rates faster than rising sea levels. All but one city in the top 10 list is from the Global South. Although China’s carbon emissions are growing, the United States and European countries still have the highest cumulative and per capita emissions.

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) has seen the destructive impacts of climate change in refugee communities. In Thailand, more than 100,000 refugees from Myanmar have been confined to national forest reserves for over three decades. They endure floods, landslides, forest fires, dengue, and malaria, even as they struggle to meet basic needs. Situations have worsened worldwide since the US government abruptly cut humanitarian aid and billions of dollars in development assistance.

JRS engages climate-vulnerable communities in research and advocacy so that they can make informed decisions about their future and bring their concerns to policymakers. However, this can come at a high cost. Some environmental activists and land defenders have been persecuted and killed because of their advocacy.

Global collaboration is urgent because the climate crisis is outpacing our ability to adapt. We must act quickly and shift the focus toward ecological justice. This requires confronting the unjust colonial history and giving the Global South a stronger voice at the negotiating table. Debt-for-nature swaps must be expanded to fund biodiversity conservation and climate action. Increased climate financing to island states and low carbon emission countries would help atone for past harm. Those who have suffered the most must be listened to when calculating loss and damage.

The call for a climate-resilient planet is addressed not only to countries, but also to individuals and communities. We all need to heed the call for ecological conversion. The climate crisis we face today requires us to recognize our shared future as the basis for collective action. Only by working together to build a carbon-free future can we address past injustices and tackle today’s inequalities, ensuring everyone’s protection across our common home—North and South.

Louie Bacomo is Director of Climate and Forced Displacement at Jesuit Refugee Service-Asia Pacific

Sources:
Carbon Brief – Analysis by Simon Evans: Which countries are historically responsible for climate change?

E-International Relations – Climate Justice in the Global South: Understanding the Environmental Legacy of Colonialism, by Nishtha Singh

Nature Communications, Subsidence more than doubles sea-level rise today along densely populated coasts, by [1] Oelsmann, J., Nicholls, R.J., Lincke, D. et al

Jesuit Refugee Service, Asia Pacific: Research and Advocacy for Climate Policy and Action – Climate Change, Human (Im)mobilities, and Resilience