Acknowledging the historic presence of justice in climate research

Abstract

In a recent Perspective, Zimm et al argue that “there is no consistent approach to comprehensively incorporate and examine justice considerations” in climate research. In reality, existing scholarship on environmental and climate justice has long examined the intersection of climate change impacts and social inequality, including along class, race, nationality and gender divides, among others. The existing literature from both social and scholarly movements provides a wealth of cross-disciplinary frameworks, indicators, and concepts which are missing from the paper. The paper is illustrative of a broader trend in recent environmental and climate justice scholarship that tends to gloss over and obscure the origins of environmental justice. It raises questions about the epistemology of climate justice, research ethics and power relations in climate research, and whose knowledge counts in policy discussions on climate change. We argue that recognizing and acknowledging historical foundations, academic and grassroots contributions for climate justice is the first step towards achieving justice in mitigation and adaptation