We advocate for climate justice for frontline communities.
Climate justice is deeply intertwined with human rights and labour rights. The effects of climate change are now documented to disproportionately impact communities in the Global Majority. Workers witness their communities upended by climate change spurred by inaction by the Global North and powerful actors in their own countries. Yet when these communities seek work and life opportunities elsewhere, they often find themselves exposed to grueling climate conditions or unsustainable practices that contribute to worsening climate effects globally.
Our research documents abuses in global industries including construction, manufacturing, and delivery where rising temperatures and extreme weather events place worker’s health, safety, and lives at risk. Our research also documents how climate change contributes to forced migration, particularly for communities that are displaced due to floods, droughts, and natural disasters. Many of these climate refugees find themselves in precarious labor markets, where they face exploitation, lack of legal protections, and poor living conditions.
We advocate for the rights of communities living on the frontlines of climate change, including indigenous populations, rural workers, and those in the Global South who are facing the brunt of environmental disasters and resource extraction. Our investigators themselves hail from impacted communities that have witness firsthand the effects of pollution, land degradation, and loss of livelihoods due to corporate activities and climate-induced changes. These global majority voices are united in calling for immediate change. We emphasize the need for businesses to adopt sustainable practices that not only reduce environmental harm but also protect workers’ rights and we campaign for stronger international and national legal frameworks that address the intersection of climate and human rights.
One of our key pillars of work focuses on just transitions to greener economies that move away from fossil fuels while ensuring that workers are not left behind. We push for businesses to adopt sustainable production, minimoze impacts on the environment, and ensure workers in affected regions are protected from exploitation. Our global partnerships help amplify the voices of workers and communities affected by environmental injustice, pushing for systemic change at both national and international levels. We envision a future where workers' rights and climate protection go hand in hand.