The Transformation of Climate Justice: New Approaches in Environmental Ethics and Human-Nature Relations

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This study aims to examine climate justice from the perspective of environmental ethics. While climate justice is often discussed in the context of international, class, and gender inequalities, the inequality between species and the connection to nature are frequently overlooked. This study seeks to propose an environmental ethics-based approach to end the climate crisis justly. The study employs literature review and theoretical analysis methods to examine environmental ethics approaches (anthropocentric, biocentric, and ecocentric) and evaluate the concept of climate justice in light of these approaches. Additionally, it explores the relationship between climate change and justice by drawing on deep ecology and justice theories. The study reveals that climate change creates significant injustices not only among human communities but also between humans and nature. It is found that low-income groups and women are more adversely affected by climate change despite being less responsible for it. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the need to redefine human-nature relationships to achieve climate justice. Climate change is not merely a matter of fair distribution but also a crisis that necessitates restructuring the human-nature relationship. Inclusive and fair approaches from an environmental ethics perspective must be developed to address this crisis. The deep ecology approach, which acknowledges the intrinsic value of nature beyond human needs, provides crucial guidance for a sustainable future. This study contributes uniquely to the literature by addressing climate justice in the context of not only human inequalities but also interspecies inequalities and recognizing nature as an ethical subject.