The climate crisis is not just an environmental emergency—but a justice crisis rooted in centuries of exploitation and systemic inequity. As the world grapples with increasingly severe climate impacts, those who contributed the least to the problem continue to suffer the most. At CESR, we believe it’s time to fundamentally change how climate finance works. In this new edition of our Key Concepts series we explore how to resource responses to the climate crisis using a reparations-based approach rooted in human rights principles. This publication builds on previous issues covering fiscal justice, COVID-19 recovery, and sovereign debt, where we provide an overview of crucial human rights concepts and their relation to economic policies.
This resource examines the legacy of structural injustices that created the climate crisis, while highlighting the urgent need for reparative measures to hold historically high-emission countries accountable. For activists, policymakers, and academics, it offers practical strategies to integrate human rights into climate action, centers the voices of communities in the Global South, and provides a roadmap for cross-movement collaboration.
Whether you’re working to advance social justice, craft equitable policies, or deepen your understanding of global economic disparities, this publication is a valuable resource to confront the discourse that challenges the availability of financial resources needed to address the crisis.
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