Climate Justice under Contemporary Environmental Change: Between the Historical Responsibility of Industrialized States and the Right of Developing Countries to Sustainable Development

Abstract

Climate change ranks among the most pressing challenges confronting the international community, given its severe repercussions on the environment, the economy, and human rights — particularly in developing countries, which bear the brunt of its consequences despite contributing minimally to greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the concept of climate justice has emerged as a mechanism for achieving equity among states in shouldering climate responsibilities, by holding industrialized nations historically accountable for environmental degradation while guaranteeing the right of developing countries to sustainable development. This study aims to clarify the concept of climate justice and its legal foundations, to analyses the responsibility of industrialized states for environmental change, to highlight the impact of climate change on development in developing countries, and to examine the effectiveness of international climate agreements. The study concludes that the international legal regime on climate still faces considerable challenges that constrain its effectiveness, chief among them being the weakness of binding international commitments and the persistence of economic disparities between states. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening climate finance, facilitating technology transfer, and enshrining international environmental responsibility in a manner that guarantees the right of developing countries to sustainable development.