How can we achieve just resilience?
The issue of a justice in climate adaptation should be addressed by politicians and policymakers at an early stage. The questions that should be considered are: What happens if we fail to consider aspects of justice? What will be the long-term cost? What effects will it have on society?
Aspects of justice should be highlighted at every stage, from collecting data, through planning, the choice of measures and onto the evaluation of the results. This is why the Swedish National Knowledge Centre for Climate Adaptation has chosen to integrate aspects of justice into its existing tools. You can learn more about this work on the page concerning the integration of justice into adaptation efforts.
This is how we integrate aspects of justice into our work (Klimatanpassning.se)
The Council for Sustainable Cities underlines the importance of inclusion of justice to a sustainable city.
Sustainable cities (Boverket) Link to external website (in Swedish)
External link.
Inclusion (Sustainable Cities) Link to external website (in Swedish) External link.
Overlapping vulnerabilities
When working for a just resilience, it is vital to consider overlapping vulnerabilities and adopt an intersectional perspective. An individual who belongs to more than one risk group is more vulnerable. For example, an older woman with a disability may be particularly vulnerable, as she belongs to several groups that are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change based on her functionality, gender and age.
Certain geographical areas, functions, objects and groups in society may be especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Vulnerability is a function of many factors, including socioeconomic, demographic, geographic and physiological factors. Examples of particularly vulnerable groups include older adults, children, pregnant women, certain occupational groups, the chronically ill, those who live alone and the economically weak. It is important that climate adaptation efforts take account of vulnerable groups and geographical areas, how these may be affected by climate change and how such groups can have their say and not be disadvantaged by the measures taken.
The most socially vulnerable are also normally those in need of most assistance, as they are more likely to lack the capacity to manage the risks themselves, something highlighted in a study of social vulnerability to climate-related threats commissioned by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB).
Adjacent perspectives
The work of the Swedish National Knowledge Centre for Climate Adaptation on just resilience emphasises gender equality and Sami rights.
Gender equality
Gender equality is an important component of just resilience, as women are generally more vulnerable than men, not least because they often shoulder the responsibility for both children and older adults who are themselves particularly vulnerable to climate change. It is important to bear this in mind in climate adaptation work to avoid exacerbating these inequities.
The overarching goal of the Swedish Government’s gender equality policy is that women and men should have equal power to shape society and their own lives. These groups are generally affected differently by climate change, one example being that men more often work outdoors and thus suffer more from extreme temperatures. Gender aspects is cross-cutting and affects all decisions at all levels and at every stage of the process. Many people already work with gender mainstreaming and both their working methods and data can benefit justice in climate adaptation.
One example of working on gender mainstreaming climate adaptation is the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland.
Sami rights
The Sami, Sweden’s indigenous people, play an important role in climate adaptation. Acknowledging Sami interests and valuing Sami opinions and knowledge in policymaking and decision-making processes is fundamental to just resilience in Sweden.
The Sami’s living conditions and ways of life, as well as their status as an indigenous people, make them an important group with whom to conduct dialogue in climate adaptation work. Climate change is also increasing the pressure on Sami lands, and thus the Sami’s need to participate in decisions that affect them. Participatory approaches including Sami traditional knowledge and perspectives is essential for a just resilience in many parts of Sweden.
Communication with the Sami people and increasing public awareness about their indigenous rights are fundamental to achieve just resilience. As things stand, there is generally a significant lack of knowledge regarding both the rights of indigenous people and Sami culture.
The Saami Council (Sami Council) Link to external website. External link.
Climate Change in Sápmi: An Overview and a Path Forward (Saami Council) External link.