Video: Rethinking Climate Justice

Climate justice is at a turning point. While some of the world's major emitters are stepping back from climate commitments, communities that have contributed least to climate change are suffering some of its most severe impacts. These impacts often intersect with or exacerbate other existing conflicts, violence, and socio-economic or political marginalisation, further intensifying vulnerabilities of local populations. In response, affected communities are taking action to address climate-related harms. Yet these locally driven efforts are often overlooked in mainstream climate justice debates.

In this video, we present findings from recent publications from the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and the Global Learning Hub for Transitional Justice and Reconciliation on local climate action in Malawi and Mindanao. We explore how community-led responses can contribute to climate justice when viewed through a transformative transitional justice lens. This approach emphasises the role of affected communities in addressing structural drivers of harm and injustice. Experts from the fields of transitional justice and climate justice discuss how local climate actions can be a tool for truth-seeking, reparation, accountability, and prevention and how these efforts can advance climate justice from the ground up.

Welcome remarks by Beatrix Austin, Head of Conflict Transformation Research Department, Berghof Foundation

Speakers:

– Jasmina Brankovic, Senior Research Adviser, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, South Africa

– Glory Muva, Programme Officer, Civil Society Network on Climate Change

– Reemar Alonsagay, Activist and Researcher, Mindanao State University, the Philippines

– Samuel Sontag, Human Rights and Transitional Justice Researcher

Moderated by Johanna Lober, Senior Project Manager, Berghof Foundation