Towards a Fair Green Future for all
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face, and it doesn’t affect everyone equally. In particular, women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds bear the brunt of climate impacts and are left out of the decisions meant to support them. Meanwhile, some voices are seeking to divide the public climate debate, putting our crucial progress at risk.
WI members care deeply about fairness, inclusion and community. That’s why we’re launching the Fair Green Future campaign as part of our long-standing climate work, to shed light on how climate change and policy impact different groups - especially women -and how we can ensure all voices are heard.
Read on to find out more about these issues.
The unequal impact of climate change
Climate change and climate policies do not affect everyone equally. People who are already disadvantaged, because of income, race, gender or health, are more vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather, rising costs, and poor air quality. At the same time, they are often underrepresented in developing the solutions to tackling the climate crisis.
Despite being disproportionately affected, women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds are often underrepresented in climate discussions and decision-making. This risks developing climate solutions which do not reflect society and appropriately address the issues they set out to tackle.
Some campaigners and organisations are working to address these inequalities:
Organisations like ActionAid and Care International work to support women and girls who are hardest hit by the devastating impacts of climate change globally.
The Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) and the Women’s Budget Group are calling for a Feminist Green New Deal, putting care, equity and representation at the centre of climate solutions.
Several campaigners are also calling for a “just transition”, ensuring that the shift to a green economy is fair, inclusive, and leaves no one behind.
The public mandate for climate action
Public concern about climate change in the UK remains very high. 80% worry about climate change. We are often seen as having a strong public mandate for net zero, but this is not always visible. Growing social and economic pressures and harmful narratives are making conversations more complex, and it may seem like public support for climate action is becoming less visible.
The public’s concern needs to be front and centre to show decision makers they need to be ambitious on climate, and that backtracking is not worth it. Several factors may boost the visibility and strength of people’s support for climate action:
Personal impact and fairness
Building trust and fairness is essential when some see climate action as just another burden. Many fear the transition to net zero will come at a personal cost. Meanwhile, experts warn that inaction will far outweigh the cost of action.
Misinformation
Misinformation can play a big role in feelings of fairness and needs to be challenged. Outright climate denial is far less common than it used to be, but stories about delaying action, doubting climate science, or exaggerating the personal costs and inconveniences of climate policies can be persuasive and hard to challenge directly.
Cultural narratives and polarisation
When climate change is caught up in wider cultural and political divides, it can seem like public support is weakening. Still, we know that this is not the case. Some talk about climate as a battle between “green elites” and “ordinary working people.” This may discourage consensus and divide communities.
At the heart of these challenges is the need to build trust and create dialogue. Some experts say that local conversations can be one of the most effective tools in bridging divides. We are working with the organisation Larger Us to train WI members in climate conversations. They believe conversations, when approached with empathy and skill, can build trust, reduce polarisation and grow support for climate action at all levels.
The charity Full Fact has also developed a toolkit for learning how to spot misinformation.
The need for public engagement
Conversation alone is not the only solution, however. To ensure that climate solutions are fair, effective, and reflect real-world experiences, many experts and campaigners are calling for deeper and more meaningful public engagement in climate decision-making.
By including communities in the process, our solutions to climate change will enjoy more legitimacy, gain vital local insights, and make sure we meet the needs of those they affect. Increasing public engagement is essential not only for fairness but for the success of the green transition.
Public engagement can take many forms, from simply being informed to sharing your views through consultations to co-creating solutions with decision-makers.
Public engagement can help
- Build trust, fairness and legitimacy
- Improve the quality and responsiveness of decisions
- Promote accountability and democratic rights
Public participation is already happening to some extent. Many local authorities run consultations on climate strategies or planning proposals.
The Climate Change Committee, the UK's independent climate watchdog, has also called for more participatory policymaking, where the public can take part in shaping climate solutions.
At the national level, the UK Government has announced a Net Zero Public Engagement Strategy, focused on increasing awareness and encouraging action. However, we need to make sure this is ambitious and inclusive to be effective.
What next?
To build a fairer, greener future, we need:
- A strong understanding of how climate change and policies affect people from marginalised groups, and decision-making that listens to them.
- Open and constructive climate conversations and sensible debates, where misinformation and unhelpful narratives are challenged.
- Solid and inclusive public participation on a national and local level.
There are lots of ways to get involved - from starting a conversation in your community to sharing your experience. Take our Fair Green Future member survey, use our discussion guide to start conversations in your WI or check out our awareness-raising toolkit.
WI members and supporters can find lots more resources and ways to get involved on MyWI here.
Together, we can build a Fair Green Future.