The ethics of climate justice in emerging economies: exploring the intersection of development and environmental responsibility

Abstract

Purpose Limited studies report the potential ethical consequences of global climate change efforts towards African countries. To fill this void, this study investigates the ethical aspects of climate justice and how they relate to African development by using the capability approach to justice and postcolonial environmentalism theories. Design/methodology/approach The study used a qualitative multiple case study approach. Purposive sampling was used to select 15 participants. The participants were representatives from various sectors, including government agencies, non-governmental organisations, academia and community leadership. They were drawn from a target population due to their expertise in climate governance. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews, policy documents and institutional narratives. Thematic analysis, through NVivo, was used to identify patterns. The data were interpreted through inductive and deductive lenses, which included the capability approach and postcolonial environmentalism. Findings The study found that African stakeholders view climate justice through a powerful ethical prism bound up with a sense of historical responsibility, moral accountability and structural inequalities. Although the world’s poorest continent contributes least to global emissions, Africa is highly vulnerable to climate effects like droughts, floods and food insecurity. Participants stressed the unfair share of mitigation as well as the lack of adequate compensation or support from developed countries. The findings point to the need to support adaptation with a justice perspective, direct community financing and equal access to climate finance and technology. Research limitations/implications Further research should focus on the role of indigenous knowledge systems and traditional governance in increasing resilience and climate justice. Comparison studies between African countries and other regions in the Global South might enhance our understanding of the global pattern in climate injustice. Practical implications Africa’s historical marginalisation and structural vulnerabilities need to be acknowledged and embedded in global climate negotiations. Green industrialisation and inclusive policymaking are suggested. Climate finance mechanisms should be reconfigured to create just and direct access for the African nations, starting from the grassroots and community level, where the impacts of climate change are most damaging. Social implications Climate justice in Africa requires a fundamental shift from current approaches to one that acknowledges historical responsibility, ensures equitable burden-sharing and prioritizes direct community support through accessible financing and technology transfer to address the continent’s disproportionate vulnerability despite minimal contribution to global emissions. Originality/value This study adds to the limited studies that report the potential ethical consequences of global climate change efforts towards African countries. In so doing, the study expands the capability approach to justice by demonstrating how African countries, particularly in rural and nearby urban areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, face heavy challenges with emission reduction efforts, which are harming their development progress and threatening food security, health systems and people’s livelihoods. The study dwells on the postcolonial environmentalism framework to advocate for a reconception of climate justice in Africa.