The International Dimension of Climate Justice and the Need for International Adaptation Funding

Those people who are least responsible for causing the problem of climate change are also those most likely to suffer directly its early impacts like hurricanes, droughts, flooding, heat waves, and sea level rise. Poor and disempowered groups bring fewer resources to prepare for, cope with, and recover from climate disasters. This article first briefly reviews the level of inequality between nations in who suffers from climate disasters and who has created the problem of climate change by dumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. To redress this inequality, it focuses then on the need for reliable, adequate, and appropriate funding to help poor nations adapt to the worst elements of climate change. Given the polluter pays principle'' that those who created a mess ought to clean it up, we need to quickly develop mechanisms to justly and effectively raise and distribute these revenues. I then review some proposed options on how to raise these funds, weighing national harmonized carbon taxes, tradable emissions permit schemes, and other innovative financial options.'' On these points, I weigh the difficult position of the climate justice movement and possibilities for productive action when cap-and-trade approaches are so firmly entrenched. Finally, I offer some initial thoughts on the remarkably difficult issue of distribution of these funds, and how to assure their usefulness to those most in need.