Climate change does not occur in a social vacuum. When extreme events such as torrential rains and floods that we are seeing in Rio Grande do Sul happen, their consequences make evident the inequality that permeates our cities, especially the towns, favelas and outskirts.
The geography of inequality in Brazil becomes visible when we look at natural disasters. Take for example the heavy rains that devastated cities in Santa Catarina in 2008. Landslides and floods left more than a hundred people dead, and tens of thousands of people lost their homes. Those who lived in the most vulnerable areas, often hillsides or floodplains, were most affected. In Joinville, the most populous city in Santa Catarina, the concentration of low-income families in risk areas made it clear how socioeconomic conditions determine who suffers most in these events.
It was no different in Recife, on the outskirts and north coast of São Paulo, or more recently in Rio de Janeiro, where intense rains have also resulted in deaths and homelessness in recent years. People in hillside areas, in informal housing, have few safe alternatives and lack access to resources that would allow them to evacuate safely. Coincidence? Obviously not. Exactly for this reason, in recent years, the concept of “climate justice” has grown.
Climate justice is a concept that recognizes that climate change does not affect all people equally, highlighting that the most vulnerable groups — often those who have contributed least to the problem — disproportionately suffer the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change . The idea of climate justice seeks to connect human rights and social equity to environmental issues, emphasizing that climate policies must take into account regional, economic and social disparities.
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Climate justice initiatives, led by local governments and civic organizations, have been growing. The increasingly frequent tragedies discredit “climate deniers”, increasing pressure on governments and institutions.
The central issue is that, for the devastating effects of climate change to be mitigated, it is necessary to face head-on the inequalities that define who suffers most in these tragedies. This includes ensuring access to decent housing, protecting vulnerable territories and expanding resources so that the most impacted groups can prepare and recover fairly. After all, we cannot talk about climate justice without talking about social justice.
