How to Teach Your Child about Climate Justice
The climate crisis is manifesting differently from country to country. Climate justice is a concept that highlights inequalities in how climate change is affecting different populations. Groups that are more vulnerable or marginalized—such as women, Indigenous peoples, low-income and homeless individuals, the elderly and the young—are often more exposed to environmental risks and damage, yet lack sufficient decision-making power to act on the issue. The recent emergence of climate justice serves as a reminder that in addition to its environmental impacts, the crisis has repercussions on the world’s political, economic, and social spheres, as well as on human rights and equity.
Talking to your children about climate justice can be daunting, given the complexity of the subject. Here are some recommendations for exploring the concept together, plus a few ways to make a difference.
Learn about Climate Justice with Your Child
If you are still a bit unclear on the concept yourself, rest assured that this is perfectly normal. Informing yourself is the key to understanding the issues at play in our world. Here are a few resources to explore:
- Climatoblabla | Justice climatique (video in French)
- David Suzuki | Environmental justice (video in French with English captions)
- MEPACQ | Eight Informational Sheets on Social and Climate Justice (in French)
Once you have a better understanding, share your thoughts with your child. How do you feel about the populations most affected by climate change? Knowing that thousands of young people around the world are involved in the fight for greater climate justice, do you feel compelled to act? Why?
Support the Climate Justice Movement
There are a number of movements dedicated to fighting for climate justice. Consider supporting these types of campaigns as a way to take concrete action. Oxfam Québec, for example, has launched a petition (in French) demanding that the government stop financing projects that create pollution by tightening regulations in the financial sector. The Canadian Coalition for Environmental and Climate Justice (CCECJ) has also launched a national campaign, this time in support of Bill C-226, which aims to prevent and address environmental discrimination in Indigenous, Black, and other racialized communities across Canada.
In order to prepare for the future and ensure the well-being of all Quebecers, it’s important to talk about environmental justice.