The Political Foundations of Climate Action: Some Uncomfortable Truths

This paper questions two fundamental political foundations for climate action: that there is but one common humanity and that global warming is the most critical and immediate threat to the survival of humankind. It further argues that the philosophical foundations of climate action lack depth and...

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Main Author: Satish Chandra Mishra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Indonesian Forestry Certification Cooperation 2024-02-01
Series:Sustainability Science and Resources
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journalssr.com/index.php/ssr/article/view/45
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author Satish Chandra Mishra
author_facet Satish Chandra Mishra
author_sort Satish Chandra Mishra
collection DOAJ
description This paper questions two fundamental political foundations for climate action: that there is but one common humanity and that global warming is the most critical and immediate threat to the survival of humankind. It further argues that the philosophical foundations of climate action lack depth and precision. While ‘climate justice’ appears center-stage to climate action, its conceptual basis remains weak because it has failed to integrate the enormous work done on justice, human rights, equality, governance, democracy and civil society since the mid 19th century. In fact, ‘climate justice’ only makes sense as a part of an overall framework of equality rather than something sui generis. On a political campaign level, this paper argues that too much attention has been paid to global conferences such as the series of COPs culminating in the most recent COP 28 in Dubai. Much less has been done on charting how the dialogue surrounding climate action today is affected by the emergence of global corporations, rapid urbanization, growth of middle-class consumption and the growth of megacities especially in Asia.  The paper suggests that it would be more fruitful to focus on the local/community and regional levels to promote familiar technologies and conservation practices rather than on global conferences and their associated statements.
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spelling doaj-art-9c413182746f45e8a03eb480bb65dda02025-08-26T04:54:37ZengIndonesian Forestry Certification CooperationSustainability Science and Resources2809-60292024-02-015The Political Foundations of Climate Action: Some Uncomfortable TruthsSatish Chandra Mishra0Strategic Asia Institute Bali This paper questions two fundamental political foundations for climate action: that there is but one common humanity and that global warming is the most critical and immediate threat to the survival of humankind. It further argues that the philosophical foundations of climate action lack depth and precision. While ‘climate justice’ appears center-stage to climate action, its conceptual basis remains weak because it has failed to integrate the enormous work done on justice, human rights, equality, governance, democracy and civil society since the mid 19th century. In fact, ‘climate justice’ only makes sense as a part of an overall framework of equality rather than something sui generis. On a political campaign level, this paper argues that too much attention has been paid to global conferences such as the series of COPs culminating in the most recent COP 28 in Dubai. Much less has been done on charting how the dialogue surrounding climate action today is affected by the emergence of global corporations, rapid urbanization, growth of middle-class consumption and the growth of megacities especially in Asia.  The paper suggests that it would be more fruitful to focus on the local/community and regional levels to promote familiar technologies and conservation practices rather than on global conferences and their associated statements. https://journalssr.com/index.php/ssr/article/view/45climate changeclimate actionclimate justiceCOPsglobal corporation and consumptioncommunity approach
spellingShingle Satish Chandra Mishra
The Political Foundations of Climate Action: Some Uncomfortable Truths
Sustainability Science and Resources
climate change
climate action
climate justice
COPs
global corporation and consumption
community approach
title The Political Foundations of Climate Action: Some Uncomfortable Truths
title_full The Political Foundations of Climate Action: Some Uncomfortable Truths
title_fullStr The Political Foundations of Climate Action: Some Uncomfortable Truths
title_full_unstemmed The Political Foundations of Climate Action: Some Uncomfortable Truths
title_short The Political Foundations of Climate Action: Some Uncomfortable Truths
title_sort political foundations of climate action some uncomfortable truths
topic climate change
climate action
climate justice
COPs
global corporation and consumption
community approach
url https://journalssr.com/index.php/ssr/article/view/45
work_keys_str_mv AT satishchandramishra thepoliticalfoundationsofclimateactionsomeuncomfortabletruths
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