Climate Equity

Climate equity refers to the fair and just distribution of the benefits and burdens of climate action, with particular attention to those historically marginalized or most vulnerable to climate impacts. It recognizes that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also a social and ethical one, deeply tied to historical emissions, structural inequalities, and uneven capacities to respond.Liu and Zhang (2024) underscore that climate equity is rooted in an understanding of cumulative per capita emissions, which illuminate profound disparities in historical responsibility between countries and social groups. Equity-informed approaches call for prioritizing frontline and historically underserved communities in adaptation, mitigation, and climate finance planning, ensuring that they are not left further behind by climate interventions.This perspective aligns with the UNFCCC’s foundational principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” (CBDR-RC), as well as broader calls for climate justice that demand intersectional approaches, recognizing how race, class, gender, and colonial legacies shape vulnerability and access to solutions (Schlosberg & Collins, 2014; Okereke, 2010; IPCC, 2022). Climate equity frameworks are increasingly embedded in global mechanisms such as the Paris Agreement, the Global Goal on Adaptation, and national adaptation plans, yet their effective implementation remains a pressing challenge.