Climate Justice: Resources and Initiatives Fall 2002
Background:
Environmental Justice Theory and Practice. “fair treatment for all people in environmental protection and access to environmental benefits”
Key sources: the work of Robert Bullard, People of Color Environmental Summit, Southwest/Northwest Networks for Environ/Economic Justice.
Just Transition, promoted by international trade unions, with EJ movement. Newly formed Just Transition Consortium, Labor Institute, NYC www.justtransition.org
Simmering Planet (handout Wk 3) re: G77 Summit declaration of the “North’s ecological debt and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities”;
regional adaptive capacity (water stress, food security, loss of biodiversity, etc.)
Selected efforts regarding Climate Change and Social Justice:
Scholarly research such as “Climate Change, vulnerability and social justice,” Stockholm Environmental Institute, Harvard. (search on “CC & EJ” for a range of materials)
Environmental Justice and CC Initiative www.ejcc.org Coalition of 28 EJ, climate justice, religious, policy and advocacy groups in US. Connected to JT movement. Opposes regressive climate policies. Affiliated with Redefining Progress, promoting use of Ecological Footprint, Community Indicators. www.redefiningprogress.org
Friends of the Earth & Greenpeace litigating CJ against US Govt. agencies
(Export Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation) as in violation of NEPA. Plaintiffs: City of Boulder, NC retirees/coastal property owners, VT maple syrup producers, FLA marine biologist (“whose life work is in jeopardy because coral reefs he has spent a lifetime studying and enjoying are disappearing”). www.climatelawsuit.org
Pacific Island Nation of Tuvalu is suing US and Australia for Climate Injustice.
Interfaith Climate Change Network www.protectingcreation.org
Just Earth Network www.amnestyusa.org/justearth Protecting rights of env advocates and envir rights of threatened and endangered communities. Supports activists from Nigeria to Ecuador as they challenge the encroaching oil economy (extraction, refineries) with its local impacts on water, health, labor, social justice, as well as global CC impacts.
Project Underground, “supporting the human rights of communities resisting mining and oil exploration.” www.moles.org Ex, support of Costa Rican President’s July 02 declaration that Costa Rica will remain free of oil exploration and open pit mining.
CorpWatch www.corpwatch.org Climate Justice Initiative. Probably the most extensive, well researched and international in scope. Analysis of corporate context, oil economy, limits/strengths of Kyoto Protocol, science/political networks. See “Greenhouse Gangsters” and “Smoke and Mirrors” reports, 4/10/01 coalition letter to President Bush.