Blog by Liz Murray, board member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and head of Scottish campaigns for Global Justice Now. Originally published in The National
At their hearts, climate justice and social justice recognise that each relates to the other and, crucially, that the right action on each can benefit both.
A combination of history, the economy and political choices – plus the power that has resulted from those – is at the root of the climate and nature crises and of deepening inequality. The rules of the global economy, set by the richest countries, and a ‘market knows best’ mind-set by those in power have destroyed decent jobs, undermined vital public services, damaged nature and fuelled the climate crisis. The promise of the last few decades that a rising tide would lift all boats was a lie: the main beneficiaries have been the wealthy and the largest corporations, while inequality and environmental destruction have grown. It’s clear that the causes of climate change and the causes of poverty and inequality share the same roots.
It’s also clear that the impacts of climate change are not being felt equally – and that is an issue of social justice. Whether you look on a global or a local scale, it’s the low income countries and disadvantaged communities who are most vulnerable to what climate change is bringing: from floods, wildfires, drought and soaring temperatures to rising sea levels and insecurity of food and water.
However, tackling the climate and nature crises, if done right, will bring huge benefits to communities and individuals suffering social injustice. Moving swiftly to renewables is vital for energy security and to take us off the rollercoaster of the international gas price that’s a big part of the cost of living crisis. Basing the move to renewables on the principles of community wealth building and local, public control of resources, for example, would fundamentally address inequality at the same time as the climate crisis.
And there are other things that we can call for in common which would have a positive impact on both the climate crisis and social inequality. For example taxing the corporations who have made huge profits from fossil fuels, and the super-rich who have benefited from the unfair rules of the economy and also have an outsize carbon footprint.
While we might at times need to be hyper focused on pushing for a very specific change – for a particular benefit reform or more funding for tree planting, for example – keeping in mind the bigger picture of how action to tackle the climate and nature emergencies will benefit social justice and vice versa can be a really positive reminder of the wider significance of the change that we’re calling for.
And when the chance comes to combine forces, for example in the mass climate lobby of Holyrood on 18 September, or the Scotland Demands Better march and rally on 25 October, then understanding this bigger picture, and why climate and social justice are so intrinsically linked, makes it clear that working together for both is crucial.
