ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how climate change serves as a catalyst for deepening economic inequality within affected countries. Climate vulnerability varies based on the socioeconomic resources of individuals and their exposure to discrimination. Consequently, climate change has the potential to worsen existing inequalities, accelerating trends of declining trust, polarization and thereby contributing to democratic erosion. Economic disparities also reflect differences in emissions between high- and low-income earners, and in this connection, this chapter discusses the climate impact of socioeconomic inequalities. While the intertwined nature of rising inequality, climate change and democratic backsliding is alarming, it also highlights the potential for addressing these challenges through synergistic policies. This chapter explores moreover the fairness dilemmas arising in the climate transition and the merits of progressive carbon taxes.
