ABSTRACT
NO: Because we cannot address climate change without addressing inequality
In stating that climate change is not the most important challenge facing us today, I argue that only by addressing the more fundamental ‘inequality crisis’ of our times do we have even a hope of effectively addressing the climate crisis. In addition, in a context of persisting inequalities characterising climate change as the most urgent challenge might even be potentially dangerous. Urgency framings can fuel authoritarian tendencies and foster an ‘us-versus-them’ mentality. This can be used to justify measures that subvert democracy and/or that protect the powerful from the worst ravages of climate change, whilst exacerbating climate injustices for the vast majority of humanity.
