Together for a Fair Climate Future
Discussion 4

Tuesday 11 May 2021

This event looked at what the impacts of climate and environmental change are for communities in the UK. Video contributorsshared their lived experiences of the impacts of climate change, including flooding, air pollution, extreme storms and sea level rise. They spoke about the consequences for their communities and families, livelihoods, jobs, and health and wellbeing. The impacts of climate change are not a distant future, but a reality for people across the world and inthe UK today.   

The ideas presented here are those of the panellists and video contributors - full credit must be attributed to them. Find out more about the speakers at the bottom of this page.

"It we are not careful the transition could exacerbate existing inequalities. But it could be an opportunity to create a fairer society."  - Sarah Hopkins 

"Climate change does not care about impacting people fairly … We don't live in an equal society…that's something we can change, and we can do something about, and we need to" - Ravina Singh

The impacts of climate change are also not felt equally by everyone. Panellists explored why some people and groups are disproportionality more affected than others, including women, people of colour, disabled people, people on low incomes, and old and young people amongst others. They discussed how socioeconomic, institutional, and structural factors determine people's vulnerability and why climate change must be treated as a social, as well as environmental issue. Contributors argued that the only way we will see change at the scale needed is through political action to address the deep, systemic causes of climate change and inequality. 

 "We have the solutions. We have the technologies. We have the knowledge required to address climate change impacts and causes. It's a matter of political will" - Michael Mikulewicz 

Although the event focused largely on the UK, it also recognised global inequalities and interconnectedness, including through family ties and supply chains, and the UK's responsibility to fund and support adaptation for countries and communities most affected by climate change. Panellists called for immediate and humanitarian responses for frontline communities and a greater focus on land rights. 

"Climate justice means that many communities are living between the two realities – we are seeing the impacts [of climate change] here but we are also fighting daily to get basic humanitarian care to our communities who are already on the frontline" – Suzanne Dhaliwal 

As we transition to a low-carbon economy, the event discussed the importance of a just transition that is fair and doesn’t leave some people behind. Panellists suggested that a just transition could even be an opportunity to tackle issues in other areas (e.g. health, fuel poverty), by maximising the co-benefits of decarbonisation. But for any solutions to be sustainable, they must be co-designed and implemented with communities and those with lived experience of the impacts of climate change. Panellists called for more funding for local authorities to engage local communities and facilitate participatory processes.

Underpinning all this, the panel emphasised the need for the environment sector, which is currently the second least diverse industry in the UK, to be reflective about how representative it is, and to work harder to create safe spaces and be an ally to marginalised groups.  

• Liam Crouse – Organiser, Misneachd

• Paul Cobbing – Chief Executive, National Flood Forum

• Michael Lomotey FRSA, MSc (he/him) - Adaptation Planning Specialist - for climate and ecology repair. Bringing a race-based critique of environmentalism

• Heather Shepherd – Flood Recovery Specialist, National Flood Forum

• Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah – Co-Founder, Ella Roberta Family

• Sunita – Blaenau Gwent Climate Assembly Member

• Sadie DeCoste – Co-Founder and Director, Loss and Damage Youth

• Ineza Umuhoza Grace – Co-Founder & Co-Director, Loss and Damage Youth Coalition