Photo Essay

Real reductions at source, an overhaul of our fossil fuel addicted energy infrastructure and widespread social change are needed to avert dangerous climate change. The changes necessary to forestall climate catastrophe are simple enough, namely, abandon carbon offsets and push structural, long-term changes that can keep fossil fuels in the ground. A switch away from fossil fuel subsidies, a reduction in energy use generally and switching to appropriate and justice-based models of renewable energy infrastructure, supporting communities defending their lands and livelihoods and investments in low carbon transport systems are essential.

The question of how much we can limit the damage caused by climate change depends on the effectiveness of these responses and how exponentially they can multiply. Effectiveness must always be tempered by also assessing success from the perspective of social justice. Promoting a more holistic attitude in the approach to climate change that does not seek to reduce the problem to marketing gimmicks, technological quick-fixes, or neo-colonial exploitation is vital.

The South is not a dump for the North and should not be viewed as such. Rebuilding these South-North relationships and addressing ecological debt are critical. The failure of the Kyoto Protocol to deal adequately with climate change is also representative of wider issues of democratic decision-making and symptomatic of the injustices that permeate international relationships between peoples. In this way, climate change can be seen as a window into addressing truly profound social change.