Key facts
- Racism and colonialism are identified as root causes of delayed and inadequate global climate action.
- Developed countries have failed to meet climate finance commitments to developing nations.
- The lives of people in developed countries are valued 15 times higher than those in developing nations.
- BIPoC voices and knowledge are marginalized in climate policy and decision-making.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and worsened global inequalities.
- Dismantling structural racism is seen as crucial for achieving environmental justice and health equity.
Global climate policy must confront its roots in racism and colonialism, which have led to delayed and insufficient action to address climate change impacts, particularly in developing countries. A report highlights that the lives of people in developed nations are valued significantly higher than those in developing countries, contributing to a lack of finance for adaptation and loss and damage.
Colonial ideologies and racist manifestations within international systems, including the UN, create power imbalances that steer climate governance. The voices and knowledge of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC) are marginalized in policy-making and climate discussions. This exclusion limits diverse perspectives, especially local and Indigenous knowledge from those most affected by climate change.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and created a 'vaccine apartheid,' prompting a call for transformation. Experts emphasize that dismantling structural, institutional, and environmental racism can also serve as solutions to curb climate change's health impacts. Historically excluded communities, often due to residential segregation, are disproportionately harmed by climate events, living in vulnerable areas without adequate support.
Institutions like the UNFCCC are urged to recognize and address systemic racism to develop equitable and just climate policies. Frameworks such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination exist to guide this work, and denying the link between climate change and racism is considered an injustice.