About This Event
The term "Climate Justice" is rapidly replacing "Climate Change" as the way we talk about the existential threat to humanity. But mainstream Climate Justice framing has tended to focus on the disproportionate impacts of climate change on certain communities; particularly the poor, BIPOC, Global South, Small Island Nations, People with Disabilities, and more. While recognizing that those "hit first and worst" and "on the frontlines" are least responsible for the crisis is essential; it is insufficient. When the story stops there, it is the story of victimhood and not the true story of agency and action. Those on the frontlines of the crisis are at the forefront of the solutions. It is grassroots organizing and social movements who are leading the way on climate solutions; from phasing out coal-fired power plants and stopping new fossil fuel infrastructure to transforming the economy through Energy Democracy, Food Sovereignty, Indigenous Land Defense, Resilient Community Design and so much more. The story of Climate and Ecology Justice is most importantly the story of community leadership to transform unjust relationships of power so we not only mitigate climate disruption but navigate the inevitable changes with the greatest equity, justice and democracy possible. There are aspects of the climate we cannot stop from changing but we have 100% control over how we experience those changes. The most impactful way to mitigate the catastrophe is to transform the economy away from extractivism, exploitation and enclosure towards cooperation, care, commons and consent.
