ABSTRACT
45Anthony Giddens has argued that climate change differs from any other problem that the world has faced so far, because it affects all of humanity and therefore challenges the whole spectrum of human rights. 2 The world community is currently struggling to find answers and solutions to the rapidly growing changes and violations of human rights induced through climate change. Climate justice, meanwhile, encompasses all human rights-based approaches towards adaptation and mitigation efforts and measures in the context of climate change – for example, adopting a gender-equality approach to policies that deal with the consequences of climate change. If we aim to prevent people from migrating, losing their homes and work, and not being able to access school or to participate in decision-making processes concerning climate change, a climate justice approach argues that we need to do this with a human rights lens. Through the human rights-based or – centred approach, state and non-state actors are required to safeguard the rights of the most vulnerable people and share the burdens and benefits of climate change and its resolution equitably and fairly. Moreover, climate justice acknowledges the need for equitable stewardship of the world’s resources. 3
