Perceived climate justice

Editorial https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02184-y Perceived climate justice Check for updates E xtensive literature has documented the disproportionate emissions generated by different population groups and the varying threats climate change poses to these groups1,2. Marginalized groups such as Indigenous peoples, women, people on low incomes and people from minority ethnic groups often face the highest risks from climate change due to geographical vulnerability, limited resources and social and political marginalization. The burden of these marginalized groups might be further exacerbated by poorly designed or inadequately implemented climate change mitigation policies3. For instance, carbon pricing without compensation might widen the income gap and increase inequality4. In this context, the concept of climate justice — considering those people who contributed the least to climate change but are suffering the severe impacts from it — is emerging as a critical framework in climate change messaging and advocacy. Climate justice is about creating a more equitable and inclusive world, including the decision-making on climate solutions5. The idea of climate justice is also attracting public attention. Public attitudes towards justice are reflected in several ways: through endorsement and understanding of the concept of environmental justice, the recognition of existing inequalities in carbon emissions and impacts, and the perception of policy fairness. In this issue of Nature Climate Change, Charles Ogunbode and colleagues present a study spanning both the global north and the global south that reveals the widespread public endorsement of climate justice beliefs. The findings show that the public acknowledge the nature climate change disproportionate impact of climate change on impoverished communities and underscore the roles of capitalism and colonialism in the climate crisis. Despite strong support for climate justice principles, they find that global awareness of climate justice remains low, with two-thirds of respondents indicating they had never heard of climate justice. Also in the issue, Kristian Nielsen and colleagues investigate the perceptions of carbon footprint inequality across four diverse countries and show that the public often underestimate the extent of inequality, particularly the footprints of the top income groups. Such underestimations can be due to a lack of information or awareness of inequality, or the complexity of estimating inequality. Perceived inequality is also influenced by ideologies, social norms and individual beliefs, as well as socioeconomic and contextual issues6,7. For example, women are more likely than men to view a given distribution of resources, opportunities or burdens as unfair8. Age may also be an influential factor as adolescents might not yet have fully developed the cognitive skills needed to process complex information effectively8. In addition, the wealthy often perceive themselves as poorer than they actually are, while the less wealthy tend to believe they are better off than they actually are8. Public perception of equity and justice matter for climate change mitigation objectives. Climate justice perceptions are associated with increased engagement in online activism, pro-environmental behaviours and support for climate policies. Perceptions of the fairness of specific policies are a strong determinant of acceptability of the policy9. Similarly, underestimating carbon footprint inequality can lead to reduced support for climate policies (as shown by Nielsen and colleagues). Ethical responsibility is another reason to promote climate justice, to ensure that the most vulnerable and least responsible for climate change are treated fairly in both its impacts and the solutions developed to address it. Therefore, it is important to encourage inclusive mitigation and adaptation policies that recognize and address climate justice, while also improving public understanding and awareness of justice. Climate science education in schools as well as social media, online platforms and community events that offer greater exposure to information can help foster awareness of climate justice (as discussed by Ogunbode and colleagues). To reach climate goals, governments need to gain support from the public for policy interventions. Consequently, there is a growing literature that examines public perceptions of climate change. These studies have focused on broad questions such as whether the public acknowledges climate change, supports related policies and how the associated risks are perceived. However, psychological processes are complex and dynamic. To fully understand these dynamics and disentangle the drivers of public support for climate policies, it is important for research to include diverse perceptions, such as justice, heterogeneity, vulnerability, adaptive capacity and moral and ethical aspects. Published online: 5 November 2024 References 1. Li, S. et al. Nat. Clim. Change 14, 468–475 (2024). 2. Dennig, F. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 112, 15827–15832 (2015). 3. Markkanen, S. et al. Clim. Policy 19, 827–844 (2019). 4. Zhao, Y. et al. Resour. Conserv. Recycl. 181, 106246 (2022). 5. Newell, P. et al. WIREs Clim. Change 12, e733 (2021). 6. Bavetta, S. et al. Rev. Income Wealth 65, 264–292 (2019). 7. Willis, G. B. et al. Nat. Rev. Psychol. 1, 301–309 (2022). 8. Gimpelson, V. et al. Econ. Polit. 30, 27–54 (2018). 9. Clayton, S. Soc. Just. Res. 31, 219–237 (2018). Volume 14 | November 2024 | 1107 | 1107 Credit: US Army Photo / Alamy Stock Photo Aspirations for a just society can motivate individuals to engage in climate action; however, public awareness of climate justice remains low, and the extent of injustice within the climate crisis is often underestimated.  (...truncated)