Underlying conceptualizations of climate justice in the Global North and South: A comparative discourse analysis of positions on justice in National Adaptation Plans

Abstract

In recent years, a number of nations in the Global North and South started preparing for the impacts of climate change by developing their National Adaptation Plans. Like other political discourses, there is evidence for an increasing focus on justice in these documents. However, ideals around justice are socially constructed, making it unclear what justice positions are taken up by which nations. This thesis uses a systematic framework to empirically analyse National Adaptation Plans and reveal the differences in justice ideals between nations in the Global North and South. The results show that countries on the Global South focus on improving the livelihoods of rural communities and overcoming gender inequalities. To achieve this, the Southern countries use funds coming from transnational donors. In contrast, countries of the Global North encourage individual responsibilities to adapt and focus on the role of the private sector. To some degree, adaptation is financed by their governments.