CLIMATE JUSTICE

The climate crisis is unjust because those that have done the least to cause the problem feel the effects first and worst. Solving the climate crisis is about more than just cutting emissions; it’s an opportunity to rethink the way this world operates and build a fairer future for everybody.

Working for climate justice means all people -- regardless of the place they’re born, the year they’re born, or the colour of their skin -- have access to a safe climate and healthy environment, and are empowered to create solutions to the climate crisis that work for them. 

We see the climate crisis as an issue of social and environmental injustice. Climate change affects everyone, but not equally. It is often the most marginalised in our societies who are hit first and worst by climate impacts and carry the burden of polluting industries. 

This is particularly true for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are already experiencing the impacts of climate change and fossil fuel extraction on community, culture and country. It is also true for Indigenous peoples the world over, people in the global south, people of colour, people with a disability, poor communities, workers, fossil fuel communities, young people and future generations.

Climate change is a symptom of deeper injustices. As young people, we are concerned that we already live in an incredibly unsustainable and unfair society, with rising inequality and environmental destruction. At the root cause is a colonial system that puts the profits of big polluters over Aboriginal land rights, the wellbeing of our communities and the environment. 

As people who care about building a fairer and more sustainable future, we recognise that our struggle is deeply intertwined with Indigenous self-determination movements and other fights for social justice. We have a vision for the future where systems of injustice are torn down and sustainable, community-led solutions can rise up in their place.

The climate crisis is a moment to rethink the way this world operates, ensuring we don’t create the same problems in the future. If we embed justice and sustainability at the heart of this transition, we can create a brighter future for all. We can have a better world - with clean energy that never runs out, diverse and thriving cultures, fairer and more connected communities, sustainable food production, restored ecosystems and biodiversity.

We are committed to a vision of climate justice, which means we:

  • Work to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees
  • Advocate for just and sustainable solutions to the climate crisis
  • Take leadership from, and work together to build the power of, those most affected by climate change
  • Examine and challenge the systems at the root cause of the climate crisis

We seek climate justice, not just because it helps build the future we want to inherit, but because it is critical for tackling the climate crisis at the speed required. If we build the power of those who stand to lose the most from inaction on climate change, and work together with these groups, then we can inspire new community-led solutions from the bottom up and ensure better decisions from those in government and business.

Building the power of those most affected by the climate crisis is the core of what we do - we are empowering a generation of young people to protect our future.