Climate justice: A view from the Latin American context

Abstract

Climate justice critically integrates ethical, social, and political dimensions into climate change discourse, recognizing its disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations and intensifying pre-existing inequalities. This article argues that operationalizing climate justice in Latin America requires fundamentally decentering Global North frameworks, rigorously addressing socio-historical injustices, prioritizing Indigenous knowledge, and fostering inclusive institutional arrangements. Latin America's unique context, marked by colonialism, extractives’, and deep-seated social inequality, fundamentally shapes its understanding of justice and creates distinct vulnerabilities. Implementing climate justice faces significant challenges, including weak regulatory frameworks, economic dependencies perpetuating extractives’ practices, and the marginalization of Indigenous knowledge systems. These issues necessitate a political redefinition of justice beyond compensation, challenging structural power asymmetries that benefit extractive industries at the expense of local communities. Effective strategies must embrace a multifaceted approach, emphasizing procedural and cognitive justice through participatory governance and integrating diverse epistemologies. Ultimately, achieving genuine climate justice in Latin America demands a paradigm shift towards development models prioritizing socio-ecological well-being, confronting systemic inequalities, and ensuring that climate action leads to truly equitable outcomes rather than exacerbating historical injustices.