Vulnerable Populations Are More Severely Impacted by Climate Change
The Center for Climate Justice at the University of California states, "Climate Justice recognizes the disproportionate impacts of climate change on low-income communities and communities of color around the world, the people and places least responsible for the problem" ("What is climate justice?," n.d.). Climate justice stems from the broader work of environmental justice. Environmental justice typically serves as the social justice lens on environmental policies, regulations, and impacts, whereas climate justice aims to address the root causes of climate change and its implications for vulnerable populations.
Climate Justice Addresses Root Causes
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) provides the following context of climate justice:
"Climate justice ensures that everyone, regardless of background, race and ethnicity, or location, enjoys equal opportunities to thrive in a sustainable and resilient world. Climate justice actively addresses the unequal impacts of climate change by prioritizing the health and safety of those who face the greatest risk, especially as communities prepare for and recover from climate events such as extreme heat and storms, wildfires and wildfire smoke, drought, and flooding.
Climate change is not only an environmental issue; it is intertwined with poverty, inequality, social justice, affluence, unequal power structures, and economic forces. Addressing climate change requires exploring its root causes and transforming existing systems that perpetuate injustices. Climate education that centers on climate justice addresses how climate change affects all people, explores how climate solutions can be more equitable, and engages all people in developing climate change solutions" ("Guidelines," 2024, p. 21).
Climate Action and Justice in the Classroom
In 2024, the North American Association for Environmental Education created the Guidelines for Excellence: Education for Climate Action and Justice as "a set of recommendations and related resources [to] support a wide range of educators as they facilitate effective climate education focused on climate action and justice." The 178-page Guidelines for Excellence provides resources, concepts, and strategies with the understanding that educators "must move beyond educating about climate change toward educating for climate action and justice" ("Guidelines," 2024, p. 8).
The "Guidelines for Excellence" expands on five key characteristics of educating for climate action and justice:
Collaborative, welcoming, and responsive learning environments
Knowledge and skills to foster climate action
Attention to climate emotions
Locally focused and community-driven
Civic engagement for climate action
Written by Sami Maldonado, March 2025.
Resource: The NAAEE's Guidelines for Excellence: Education for Climate Action and Justice shares resources and concepts for educators. You can find more resources like this in the Nurturing Roots of Justice resource hub.
Donoghoe, M., Perry, A., & Stephens, H. (2023). The US can’t achieve environmental justice through one-size-fits-all climate policy. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-us-cant-achieve-environmental-justice-through-one-size-fits-all-climate-policy/.
Energy and climate justice. (2023). University of Colorado Environmental Center. https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/programs/energy-and-climate-justice.
Gabbatiss, J., & Tandon. (2021). In-depth Q&A: What is ‘climate justice’? Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-what-is-climate-justice/.
Guidelines for excellence: Educating for climate action and justice. (2024). North American Association for Environmental Education. https://drive.google.com/file/d/17bngnmpyeoblhg_LXYRFM4UU7YD4CCQ5/view?usp=sharing.
What is Climate Justice? (n.d.). University of California Center for Climate Justice. Retrieved March 6, 2024, from https://centerclimatejustice.universityofcalifornia.edu/what-is-climate-justice/.