Climate justice
Climate justice requires the liberation and emancipation of all from systems of oppression. These systems are the source of ongoing ecocide. They produce and perpetuate structural social inequalities that are amplified in the face of the climate crisis. The climate crisis is more than an environmental crisis. It amplifies existing crises and creates new ones. - The HUB [1]
"Climate justice is social justice." - Tasnim Rekik [2]
"It's the idea that climate change is not just a physical problem that can be addressed with simple technological solutions, like electric cars. It is not enough to stop emitting CO2. Rather, environmental destruction is a symptom of a system that is based on social injustices." - The David Suzuki Foundation [3]
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Examples of climate justice
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Disposability discourse |
Much discussion around the severity of COVID was lessened by expressing how it mainly sickens and kills elderly, chronically ill, and disabled people. This discourse suggests these groups are seen disposable. |
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Loosened restrictions too early |
When governments loosened COVID restrictions in response to business demands, political pressure, and public impatience, rather than scientific evidence, high risk populations (the chronically ill, disabled and elderly) were subsequently told they are disposable yet again. |
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Working through illness |
Regulations around how many sick days should be required when someone falls ill with COVID also demonstrated ableism. In relation to these regulations, and in favour of profit above health, many politicians including US President Joe Biden, praised themselves for working through COVID, instead of encouraging people to rest and recover if they'd fallen ill. |
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Individualism |
Individuals have been encouraged to make 'personal' choices on vaccines (without legitimate health restrictions), masks and gatherings. "There is no individual safety without collective safety and collective safety requires that no one is safe unless everyone is safe." - Mia Mingus [4] |
