The concept of climate justice refers to the intersection between climate action and social justice, based on the recognition that the main contributors to the climate crisis are those who can most easily adapt to its harmful effects, whilst the groups most vulnerable to the consequences of the climate emergency and their territories – with fewer resources (financial, technological) and lower relative adaptive capacities – are those that contribute least to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, both historically and at present. These inequalities and asymmetries are present in national and local contexts, but equally so in international relations and international political economy. Reflecting on climate justice also brings to the forefront the debate on the responsibility of the present generation towards future generations and non-human forms of life.

Organised with the institutional support of various graduate programs at UERJ, such as those in Environmental Studies (PPGMA/UERJ), Political Science (PPGCP/IESP-UERJ) and International Relations (PPGRI/UERJ), the 1st SLAJC aims, one year after COP 30, to create interdisciplinary forums for dialogue, and to generate and disseminate knowledge and practices in the field of climate justice through contributions from researchers, students, public sector managers and representatives of civil society from Latin America and the Caribbean.