{"id":69120,"date":"2023-12-07T15:16:36","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T15:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lse.ac.uk\/granthaminstitute\/?post_type=faqs&p=69120"},"modified":"2024-08-16T09:40:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T08:40:15","slug":"what-is-meant-by-intergenerational-climate-justice","status":"publish","type":"faqs","link":"https:\/\/www.lse.ac.uk\/granthaminstitute\/explainers\/what-is-meant-by-intergenerational-climate-justice\/","title":{"rendered":"What is meant by intergenerational climate justice?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A multidimensional concept with emerging guidelines and principles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Climate change is an inherently intergenerational issue: its adverse impacts, driven by human activity, pose serious implications for justice and equity between present and future generations. An important aspect is that decisions made today on mitigating climate change and investment into adaptation and resilience will have a major impact on the ability of people to effectively enjoy a clean, healthy and sustainable environment<\/path><\/svg><\/a> now and in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As set out by the United Nations<\/path><\/svg><\/a>, intergenerational climate justice is grounded in the idea that the “pursuit of welfare by the current generation should not diminish opportunities for a good and decent life for succeeding generations”. Along with the narrower<\/path><\/svg><\/a> but related concept of intergenerational equity<\/path><\/svg><\/a>, which states that “every generation holds the Earth in common with members of the present generation and with other generations, past and future”, the two concepts coalesce around three main pillars of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development<\/path><\/svg><\/a>: humanity’s collective duties to the future<\/path><\/svg><\/a>; creating new global public goods to be enjoyed by present and future generations alike; and inclusive governance and decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intergenerational climate justice is thus a multidimensional concept, encompassing the ascription of responsibility for past and current greenhouse gas emissions, the distribution of endowment and natural resources (distributive justice<\/path><\/svg><\/a>), the displacement and imposition of types of climate risks, the restoration of earth systems and relationships between humans and nature (restorative justice<\/path><\/svg><\/a>) and governance structures in decision-making (procedural justice<\/path><\/svg><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guidelines and principles on intergenerational justice and equity are emerging (e.g. the Maastricht Principles on The Human Rights of Future Generations<\/path><\/svg><\/a>). Within multilateral institutions, intergenerational justice and equity are also being ‘mainstreamed’. At the COP27 climate summit in 2022, the UN High-Level Expert Group on the Net Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities called on<\/path><\/svg><\/a> the private sector to incorporate intergenerational equity considerations into climate transition plans. In May 2023, the UN endorsed the Common Principles on Future Generations<\/em><\/a>, designed to ensure that UN agencies pursue actions, establish meaningful representations and foster partnerships and capabilities in the interests of future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calls for intergenerational climate justice and use of the courts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Calls for intergenerational climate justice today are often led by younger generations and driven by their grievances over the actions – and inactions – of states in perpetuating the climate crisis. In addition to advocacy campaigns by youth-led grassroot movements<\/path><\/svg><\/a>, activists are increasingly launching court action to pursue their complaints through so-called climate change litigation<\/a> to seek accountability for actions that harm the rights of future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prominent cases include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n