How connected social movements are making climate action more just and effective

The document argues that climate change impacts are not equal and are influenced by intersectional factors such as race, gender, power, and poverty. It provides examples of coalitions uniting debt activists, homeless advocates, racial justice groups, indigenous leaders, women's rights organisations, and labour unions to address systemic inequalities alongside the energy transition. These collaborations range from demanding unconditional debt cancellation for the Global South and vaccine equality to promoting 'carbon banks' for Black farmers in the US and integrating trans rights into environmental movements. The briefing highlights that integrating a social justice lens—recognising interacting systems of oppression—is essential for a diverse and effective climate movement.

• Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable and marginalised populations, with impacts influenced by intersectional factors including race, gender, power, and poverty.
• Coalitions of debt activists and climate groups, such as the Jubilee Debt Campaign, are calling for unconditional debt cancellation for countries in the Global South, particularly Small Island Developing States, to address the link between unjust debt and climate vulnerability.
• In the US, climate disasters like California wildfires and the Texas coldsnap are exacerbating homelessness, leading groups like Invisible People and the Climate Reality Project to advocate for the protection of those in precarious housing.
• Environmental racism is a significant issue in South Africa, where Black South Africans are more likely to live on damaged land and in polluted areas; in response, coalitions like the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance and Earthlife Africa are demanding a non-racist and gender-conscious transition away from fossil fuels.
• Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from US agriculture, which were over 10% of national emissions in 2018, are being linked to movements for Black land sovereignty, with proposed solutions including a 'carbon bank' to reward soil carbon storage for small-scale Black farmers.
• Gender inequality persists in the energy sector, with women responsible for less than 11% of energy-related patents; initiatives like Solar Sister in sub-Saharan Africa and ReWIRE in the UK work to increase women's leadership and employment in renewables.
• Transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals face heightened vulnerability during climate crises, as evidenced by discrimination in New Orleans shelters during Hurricane Katrina and the destruction of safety hubs in Fiji after tropical Cyclone Harold.
• In the UK, the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) argues that investing in marine energy and offshore wind could generate more jobs than the entire UK arms industry, suggesting a shift in funding from weaponry to renewables for genuine security.
• The Orkney Islands in Scotland have transitioned to a self-sustained renewable society, producing 120% of their energy needs through wave, tidal, and community-owned wind power, creating 300 new jobs.

APA

Team, Z. (2021). How connected social movements are making climate action more just and effective. Zero Carbon Analytics. https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/policy/how-connected-social-movements-are-making-climate-action-more-just-and-effective/

Chicago

Team, ZCA. How connected social movements are making climate action more just and effective. Zero Carbon Analytics, 2021. https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/policy/how-connected-social-movements-are-making-climate-action-more-just-and-effective/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Team |first1=ZCA |title=How connected social movements are making climate action more just and effective |publisher=Zero Carbon Analytics |date=18 May 2021 |url=https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/policy/how-connected-social-movements-are-making-climate-action-more-just-and-effective/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{team2021how, author = {Team, ZCA}, title = {{How connected social movements are making climate action more just and effective}}, institution = {Zero Carbon Analytics}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/policy/how-connected-social-movements-are-making-climate-action-more-just-and-effective/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }