Movements for global climate Justice: Reconsidering the international arena of climate change

The question of climate change is traversed by a clear inequality between the rich and powerful countries, mostly responsible for its production, and the poor vulnerable countries menaced by its most serious risks and consequences, hence the need to deal with the so-called "climate debt".This has sparked international action for establishing response mechanisms against climate alterations. This article addresses critically the issue of climate debt and climate injustice, forged over more than twenty years of international climate negotiations. Our goal is to show that climate change is a scientific or environmental issue but also, fundamentally, a social issue. The article will describe how, in view of the lack of agreements, civil societies have become increasingly involved in the climate debate through the adoption of innovative solutions. The Urgenda case in the Netherlands and the cases brought to court by the organization Our Children Trust, in the United States, are telling illustrations. The Paris Agreement sets out to counteract the geopolitics of the disrespect for sovereignty over natural resources. Therefore, the study of movements for climate justice provides a different perspective of climate negotiations, based, finally, on human rights, dignity and equality. The change in Paris portends some hope in achieving climate justice.