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People & Planet: Climate Justice

  • Center for Earth Jurisprudence United States (map)

Join Nfamara Dampha, Research Scientist in Natural Capital & Ecosystem Services, UMN Institute on the Environment, and Sam Grant, Executive Director, Rainbow Research, as they deconstruct the principle of “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities” – part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was ratified by 198 nations in 1994.

These speakers will connect the global and the local in a candid conversation that ranges from climate and environmental justice issues in Minnesota to national and international differentiated responsibilities in the work to redress climate vulnerabilities, inequalities, and injustice – from intra- and intergenerational perspectives. They’ll dig into a range of policy-relevant questions, including:

  • What obligations do we owe to those overburdened by climate change impacts, including indigenous, marginalized, and underrepresented groups, and the poorest of society?

  • Who should pay for climate loss and damage, to whom should it be paid, and when?

  • Is climate financing a moral obligation or a form of charity or development assistance?

  • How much and how fast can climate investments reduce inter- and intragenerational inequity?

  • Is climate justice perceived as a human rights matter?

  • Who speaks and who listens to the voiceless, the marginalized, the underserved, and disadvantaged communities?

  • And – how can universities support climate justice for a just transition for all?

These questions are relevant in both academic and public affairs – and yet are often undermined by micro-politics of so-called nationalism and patriotism. They hope this conversation on how to mainstream climate/environmental justice in both research and policy will inspire researchers, advocates, practitioners, and policymakers to deeply reflect on the equity and justice issues at stake due to the global nature of climate change. Expect this conversation to be honest and perhaps difficult for some to assimilate; global and local equity issues require tough, but respectful discussion.

For more information, or to register for this free virtual opportunity, click HERE.