Ecojustice: Reframing Climate Justice As Racial Justice

Abstract

Climate change poses a considerable threat to the young generation. While the youths from Africa are less responsible for air pollution, prominent projections indicate that they are likely to be the most disadvantaged by the results of global warming, such as deluge, drought, and heat waves. Unlike those in China and countries in the Global North with the capacity to adapt to anticipated warming, Africa’s young generation is more susceptible as it lacks the capacity to cope with the socio-economic challenges that climate change brings, including food price hikes, heat stress, and water shortages. Thus, although it has been nearly two decades since the adoption of the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, a disproportionate percentage of countries in the Global North are yet to fully comply with the provisions of the instrument that aims to cap rising greenhouse emissions (GHGs). The article argues that racial injustice is perpetrated by the highest emitters of GHGs since Africa, which is noted as the least emitter, will be hit the most by climate change. It is against this backdrop that the article considers the prospects and challenges of Africa’s youths filing an application with the Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination to hold the highest emitting states accountable for the serious harm that their actions might have on the youths’ livelihoods.