Glossary

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Ableism:: A form of discrimination based on a values system that considers certain body and mind characteristics essential to living a fulfilled life. It assumes the quality of life of people with disabilities must be very low. (Source: United Nations Human Rights)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples:: “Indigenous peoples of Australia, of which there were more than 500 different language groups before British colonisation.” (Source: Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health)

Absorptive Capacity:: This is the capacity to bounce back after a shock. It is about stability and prevention or limitation of the negative impact of shocks. “Absorptive capacity is the capacity to take intentional protective action and to cope with known shocks and stress. It is needed as shocks and stress will continue to happen, for example, due to extreme weather events caused by climate change, protracted conflict, and disasters.” (Oxfam, The Future is a Choice)

Accountability:: An obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. (Source Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Adaptation:: Actions and strategies implemented to enhance the resilience of communities and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. (Source: AdaptNSW)

Adaptive Capacity:: Adaptive capacity is the ability of individuals, communities, or systems to adjust and respond effectively to changes and challenges in their environment, especially related to climate change. It involves having the skills and resources needed to recognise and manage risks, as well as the ability to learn from experiences and adapt strategies accordingly. By improving adaptive capacity, communities can better cope with disruptions and thrive despite uncertainty, which helps increase overall resilience and sustainability. (Source: Moving from Adaptive to Transformative Capacity: Building Foundations for Inclusive, Thriving, and Regenerative Urban Settlements)

Advocacy/Systemic Advocacy:: Organisations, groups, or individuals working to create long-term social and legislative changes that ensure laws, policies, and practices fairly support the rights and needs of everyone. Advocacy is done by acting, speaking, listening, and writing to promote and defend the rights of individuals or communities. The goal of systemic advocacy is to introduce and influence positive changes in systems, such as the Western Australia (WA) Health System, by responding to community voices. This includes ensuring that the rights of marginalised groups, like First Nations people and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, are protected and respected. Systemic advocacy also involves sharing information, encouraging community involvement, and promoting collaborative work to improve outcomes. (Source: Health Consumers Council)

Ageism:: References to the discrimination of people based on their age. (Source: Climate Justice needs and Intersectional Approach)

Agency:: There are different types of agency. It can mean the capacity to act or exert power. It can also mean a person or thing through which power is exerted. (Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Agents of Oppression:: Agents of oppression are individuals from dominant social groups who, whether intentionally or unintentionally, exploit their privilege to gain unfair advantages over marginalised groups. (Source: Vanderbilt, Power & Privilege)

Ally:: A person who actively recognises and addresses inequality and is committed to taking action against it. Someone committed to dismantling oppression by educating themselves about the issues, listening to those affected, and examining their own biases. They confront feelings of guilt and defensiveness, challenge discriminatory behaviours and policies, and collaborate with targeted groups to create meaningful change. (Source: Human Rights Australia and Vanderbilt, Power & Privilege).

Banning Fossil Fuels – oil, coal, gas:: Forbidding new fossil fuel exploration and exploitation; a moratorium (temporary suspension) on the construction of new nuclear power plants; the phase-out of the use of nuclear power worldwide; and a moratorium on the construction of large hydro schemes. (Source: Kavita Naidu).

Carbon Footprint:: The total amount of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, that are emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organisation, event, or product throughout its lifecycle.
Note: The Carbon Footprint calculation was invented as a part of a marketing campaign by British Petroleum (BP). Toolkit users should be aware of this history, as it highlights how the concept of a carbon footprint can be used to shift responsibility for climate change onto individuals while larger systemic contributors, like fossil fuel companies, downplay their own significant role in greenhouse gas emissions.
“Like many other businesses and fossil fuel companies, BP has effectively created a form of greenwashing to conceal their own massive carbon emissions by presenting a misleading carbon calculator that places the burden of climate change on you while simultaneously missing the point.”
(Source: 8billiontrees and Worrying about your carbon footprint is exactly what big oil wants you to do, The New York Times)

Caring for Country:: This refers to the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples managing and protecting their land and environments based on deep cultural knowledge. In the context of climate justice, Caring for Country means supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in environmental care. This includes traditional methods like cultural burning, which help maintain biodiversity and manage natural resources. It also involves recognising and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to lead climate action efforts. By doing so, we preserve cultural heritage and strengthen resilience to climate change. (Source: Caring for Country means tackling the climate crisis with Indigenous leadership and Caring for Country: Indigenous Wellbeing, Law, and Environmental Justice)

Classism:: The systematic oppression of people excluded from the upper class. It is a belief that a person’s social or economic position in society determines their value that leads to discrimination. (Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

Climate Emotions – Anxiety:: Climate Anxiety, Eco Anxiety and Environmental Anxiety refer to feelings of distress, fear, and helplessness stemming from concerns about the environmental crisis and its impact on the planet’s ecosystems and future generations. Climate Anxiety is an ongoing or chronic fear of environmental doom and can apply to past, present or future events.Feeling anxious, worried, upset, sad, scared, angry or overwhelmed when hearing bad news about our planet, the climate, and our environment. (Source: Climate Council).

Climate Emotions – Climate Change Denial:: The belief that the climate is not changing, or that if it is, it is a natural cycle that humans do not have any control over. (Source: European Center for P opulism Studies). Denial is when you really want something not to be true. Climate denial is the refusal to accept the scientific consensus that climate change is happening and that human activities, like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, are the main causes. This can involve rejecting the fact that the climate is changing, denying the role of human actions, downplaying the potential impacts, or believing in conspiracy theories that claim climate change is a hoax. Climate denial often leads to misinformation and delays in taking action to address the serious risks posed by climate change. If you are in denial, you’re trying to protect yourself by not accepting the truth about something happening in your life. Denial can help you cope with difficult situations for a while, but if you stay in denial too long, it can stop you from getting help or dealing with problems. In the short-term, denial can be helpful, giving you time to get used to tough situations or learn new things. But if it goes on too long, it can become harmful, making you look for false information that supports what you want to believe rather than what is true. (Source: The Climate Reality Project).

Climate Emotions – Solastalgia:: The term ‘solastalgia’ was created in 2005 by environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht to describe the growing feeling of distress experienced by people living in areas undergoing severe changes. (Source: T. Tupou et al., 2023)

Climate Justice:: Climate justice links human rights and development to safeguarding the rights of the people most impacted by climate change and sharing the burdens and benefits of climate change and its impacts equitably and fairly. (Source: Kavita Naidu).
Climate Justice sits at the intersection of social justice and climate change. Climate justice is the idea that climate change should be tackled in a way that is fair, especially to those who are most affected but have done the least to cause it. It calls for action that considers the needs of at-risk communities, holds big polluters accountable, and ensures that everyone has a say in the solutions. There are various dimensions that help to better understand climate justice. -> See Dimensions of Climate Justice in this glossary.

Climate Refugees:: People who must leave their homes and communities due to the eco-political impacts of climate change (i.e. loss of land and livelihood, water and food scarcity or insecurity, disasters, etc). (Source: National Geographic).

Co-reflection:: Co-reflection is a process in which peer workers come together in a supportive, collaborative space to reflect on their work. Unlike traditional supervision, co-reflection focuses on mutual learning and shared exploration of experiences rather than evaluation. Rooted in the principles of Intentional Peer Support, it encourages open dialogue, challenges assumptions, and promotes growth by fostering critical thinking and relationship-building. Co-reflection helps peer workers maintain peer values and enhances their ability to engage meaningfully in their roles. (Source: Intentional Peer Support Co-Reflection Guide).

Colonial Load: The term ‘colonial load’ refers to the expectation placed on Indigenous people to help address systemic injustices caused by colonisation, often through initiatives led by non-Indigenous Australians. (Source: National Indigenous Times). It used to be referred to as “cultural load”, which is the additional burden of educating, advocating and informing people on the culture and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is often an invisible workload not outlined in a job description but on top of other duties of people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is the implied responsibility and expectation that the individual speaks on behalf of all. (Source: Diversity Council Australia). Cultural load is being reframed to “cultural responsibility” and “colonial load”, highlighting that culture has always been a strength. Cultural and cultural practices keep people well. It is not a load. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are not responsible for carrying the load of the colonial project. Settlers are. (Source: Weenthunga Health Network) -> Visit: Engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples)

Colonialism:: When a country takes control of another country, often by force, and exploits its resources and people. The occupying country imposes its own laws, culture, and economic systems on the colonised country. This results in long-lasting negative effects on the colonised people’s way of life and development. (Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR/CBDR-RC):: A key concept in international climate change law. It posits that there is a common obligation on all States to take equitable (fair) responsibility for reducing global warming. Developing countries focus on ‘historical emissions’ of Global North countries having the greater responsibility of reducing/mitigating emissions. (Source: Article 3, UN Framework on the Convention of Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement). (Source: Kavita Naidu)

Community Owned Renewables:: Energy projects owned and managed by local community members or organisations, focusing on generating renewable energy like solar, wind, or hydro power. The benefits, such as revenue and cost savings, are shared within the community, promoting local empowerment and sustainability.Incorporating climate and social justice, these projects ensure a fair and inclusive transition to clean energy. They prioritise marginalised and low-income communities, reduce inequality, improve energy access, and create local jobs, contributing to both environmental and social well-being. Renewable energy is inherently just and fair. (Source: Co mmunity Owned Renewable Energy and Climate False Solutions)

Corporate Capture:: Climate change is being caused primarily by industrialised nations and transnational corporations. The multilateral development banks, particularly the EU and the United States, have compromised the democratic nature of the United Nations as it attempts to address the problem. Corporate capture uses corporate influence to soften regulation, weaken regulatory powers, bank-roll elections, utilise state security services (such as police and military) against communities and implement practices to weaken the State institutions and processes that are responsible for ensuring they can respect, protect and fulfil human rights. An economic elite undermines the realisation of human rights and the environment by exerting undue influence over domestic and international decision-makers and public institutions. In this sense, corporate capture acts as a ‘root cause’ of many corporate human rights abuses. (Source: Kavita Naidu)

Country:: Traditional lands and waters that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples belong to. Country is an interconnecting system of reciprocal caregiving between people, land, water, and all plants and animals (known as “caring for Country”). Country is used as a reference point for introductions when meeting other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. (Source: Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health)

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CSID):: A structured, brief intervention typically conducted in a small group shortly after a crisis. CISD helps individuals to process the event and reduce the risk of traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety. It follows a seven-stage process and usually lasts around three hours or less (Source: Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Choosing Therapy).

Cultural Burns:: “Traditional “patch” burning of the landscape during dry months while weather is cool. Removes dry fuel load to prevent uncontrolled wildfires, which release substantial amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. These also stimulate under-canopy regrowth and forage for animals, which stimulates ecosystem biodiversity.” (Source: Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health)

Cultural Humility:: Being aware of social power imbalances and biases and respecting others’ values. This is a cyclical process where you continue to reflect on yourself. Learning about other cultures is a lifelong journey, and no one can get it right all the time. (Source: PsychHub)

Cultural Load (Colonial Load):: The additional burden of educating, advocating and informing people on the culture and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is often an invisible workload not outlined in a job description but on top of other duties of people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is the implied responsibility and expectation that the individual speaks on behalf of all. (Source: Diversity Council Australia). -> See Colonial Load in this glossary

Cultural Reflexivity:: Cultural reflexivity is the practice of critically examining one’s own cultural beliefs, values, and biases, particularly in professional contexts such as healthcare and mental health. It involves being aware of how these personal factors influence interactions with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. This self-reflective process is essential for care professionals, as it enhances cultural responsiveness and ensures that services are respectful and tailored to the unique needs of each individual. By placing reflexivity at the centre of cultural responsiveness, practitioners can foster more meaningful connections and improve the effectiveness of their practice (Source: Reflexivity: a model for teaching and learning cultural responsiveness in mental health).

Cultural Safety:: Cultural safety is a practice in various fields, particularly healthcare, that prioritises respect for and understanding of individuals’ cultural identities. It aims to create environments where people feel safer and valued, free from discrimination and bias. This approach encourages professionals to reflect on their own beliefs and attitudes, ensuring that care and services are appropriate and responsive to the cultural needs of all individuals, especially those from marginalised communities (Source: Reflexive Practice as an Approach to Improve Healthcare Delivery for Indigenous Peoples: A Systematic Critical Synthesis and Exploration of the Cultural Safety Education Literature).

Dimensions that underpin Climate Justice – Procedural Justice:: “This dimension calls for the inclusion of impacted communities in decision-making processes. First Nations people, in particular, are often highlighted as needing greater influence in climate-related decisions.” (Source: The Commons Social Change Library)

Dimensions that underpin Climate Justice – Distributive Justice:: “Many environmental groups highlight the inequitable distribution and disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalised communities across the globe. Groups which apply a Distributive Justice understanding of climate justice emphasise that some communities bear the brunt of climate change and its costs.”(Source: The Commons Social Change Library)

Dimensions that underpin Climate Justice – Intergenerational Justice:: “Some environmental groups, often youth-focused, express concerns about the impacts of climate change on future generations. They consider what is owed to hypothetical unborn generations and highlight potential human rights violations related to climate change.” (Source: The Commons Social Change Library)

Dimensions that underpin Climate Justice – Recognition Justice:: “This dimension refers to the interaction of climate change with existing forms of disadvantage. Groups communicating about this dimension of climate justice call for recognition and respect for difference, linking climate change to the exacerbation of existing inequalities.” (Source: The Commons Social Change Library)

Dimensions that underpin Climate Justice – Relational Justice:: “This emphasises the importance of fostering collaborative relationships through dialogue and negotiation, arguing that cooperation between groups and communities must purposely aim to advance climate justice. Fair, equal and respectful relationships are seen as essential in developing equitable climate change responses.” (Source: The Commons Social Change Library)

Dimensions that underpin Climate Justice – Transformative Justice:: “This dimension focuses on remaking social and institutional inequalities that drive and perpetuate climate change. Some argue that addressing climate justice requires a fundamental shift away from the capitalist global economic system.” (Source: The Commons Social Change Lib rary) Transformative justice focuses on the institutional and social inequalities that perpetuate climate change and the responses to it, arguing for the urgent need to re-balance power structures and provide new, more equitable and just processes. It puts the analysis of power at the centre of its inquiry, focusing on institutional and social relations and imbalances that equally produce and deeply shape the responses to climate change.

Transformative Justice Includes:

Deepening Climate Justice: Seeks to extend prevailing conceptions and applications while at the same time addressing the root cause of climate injustice. It focuses on questions of pathways for a just transition, supply-side climate policy, justice for nature and looks at just responses to climate-related disasters.

Inclusive Climate Justice: Aims to opening up climate politics and policy to more voices and actors, precisely those most marginalised and vulnerable to climate-impact and injustices.

Governance for Climate Justice: Engages with questions of access to law, democracy, justice, and climate justice beyond the state. It highlights the importance of strengthening and deepening of democracy for climate change to challenge structures of power and improve the representation of marginalised groups. It seeks to ensure access to the means that can cultivate climate justice, including political systems, free media, freedom of expression and a strong civil society.

Disaster Justice:: “Disaster justice focuses on the role of governing structures in creating and perpetuating risks, inequalities and injustices that are magnified by natural hazards and extreme weather. This includes responsive and consultative relationships between emergency management and communities during extreme weather and disasters. Community and government responses need to be driven by equitable, fair and inclusive interventions that recognise the systemic drivers of inequity and environmental harm and address the existing systemic issues that perpetuate harm.” (Source: Federation of Community legal Centres Vic)

Disaster:: A major disruption to the functioning of a community or society due to an event leading to human, material, economic, and environmental losses and impacts. (Source: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction).

Disinformation:: False information deliberately and often secretively spread in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth. Also see misinformation. (Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary). -> Visit: Climate Conscious Media and Media Literacy

Divestment:: Divestment in context with Climate Justice refers to strategies designed to encourage the withdrawal of existing investments from fossil fuel-related industries and activities, as well as discouraging new ethical investments in more “climate-friendly” industries such as renewable energy and energy efficiency. (Source: Future Super).

Ecological Debt:: Developed governments and transnational corporations owe the rest of the world as a result of their appropriation of the planet’s capacity to absorb greenhouse gases. Fossil fuel and extractive industries are held strictly liable for all past and current life-cycle impacts relating to the production of greenhouse gases and associated local pollutants. Protects the rights of victims of climate change and associated injustices to receive full compensation, restoration, and reparation for loss of land, livelihood and other damages. (Source: Kavita Naidu)

Elders:: “Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people recognized by their community as leaders and cultural knowledge holders.” (Source: Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health)

Environmental Justice:: The fair treatment and involvement of all people, regardless of race, colour, income, or national origin, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. (Source: ClientEarth)

Environmental Racism:: The disproportionate impact of environmental hazards and policies on marginalised communities, particularly those inhabited by people of colour. (Source: World Economic Forum)

Equality:: Everyone holds the same value and is entitled to the same rights. Opportunities and respect apply to everyone evenly. This is enshrined in law under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Source: Human Rights)

Equity:: Everyone achieves equal outcomes, regardless of where we start from. It is about providing the correct amount of resources to each individual or group so that the outcome is even. (Source: Human Rights)

False Climate Solutions:: Technological or market-based schemes promoted by fossil fuel companies, governments, climate organisations and their allies to give the appearance of meaningful climate action while actually delaying effective policies that might challenge power, control and profit (Source: New Energy Economy). Market-based mechanisms and technological “fixes” promoted by transnational corporations are false solutions and are exacerbating the problem. (Source: Kavita Naidu) -> Visit: False Climate Solutions and Undermining Tactics and HOODWINKED Climate False Solutions.

Feminism:: A belief in the social, economic, and political equality of all genders. It argues that no one should be denied rights, such as the right to vote, hold political office, or work outside the home, because of their sex or gender. Feminism also aims to end sexism and tackle intersectional oppression, which includes discrimination based on gender, race, sexuality, and class. Over time, feminism has focused on issues like voting rights, reproductive freedom, equal pay, and breaking down harmful gender norms. (Source: Human Rights Careers)

Fossil fuels:: Fossil fuels are the underground remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago, which can be processed and combusted for energy use. Examples include oil, bitumen, coal and natural gas. -> See Banning Fossil Fuels – oil, coal, gas in this glossary

Freedom of Speech:: Everyone holds the right to express their views in written, verbal, artistic expression, protest, broadcasting and commercial advertising. However, this right carries special responsibilities and can be restricted if it is inciting violence, access to certain internet sites or classification of certain visual material or restricted content. (Source: Australian Government)

Gender Equity:: A process of being fair to all genders while recognising the historical and social disadvantages that prevented a level playing field. (Source: United Nations Population Fund)

Gender Justice:: The full equality and equity between women, men, LGBTQIA+, and non-binary people. This can only be achieved by transforming gender and power relations. (Source: Oxfam International)

Historical Accountability:: Countries around the world are beginning to look deeply into their colonial history and addressing the historical injustices their ancestors participated in. By taking accountability for their past actions, a better understanding of current social and economic inequalities can lead to better solutions. (Source: Advocate Sans Frontieres)

Historical Responsibility:: Developed/Global North countries have historically benefited from colonialism and imperialism to build their economies. Through the Industrial Revolution to the Green Revolution and beyond, developed governments have extracted natural resources and labour from developing countries and released huge amounts of greenhouse gases while the rest of the poorer nations could not develop equally and suffered the worst impacts of a warming world. Therefore, developed / Global North countries bear the greater responsibility of reducing their emissions, while developing / Global South countries’ responsibility is less as they are still developing. (Source: Kavita Naidu) -> See Ecological Debt and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in this glossary

Historically Marginalised Communities:: Groups of people that have experienced (and possibly continue to) marginalisation. This is experienced across multiple generations and ingrained in social norms and sometimes law. It extends across economics, social standing, early-life and healthcare. (Source: University of Canberra)

Homophobia:: An irrational fear, aversion, or hatred towards people who identify as LGBTQIA+. (Source: Australian Human Rights Commission)

Human Rights:: Rights that are extended to every person with evidence of it occurring throughout history. The principles are dignity, respect, equality and fairness. (Australian Human Rights Commission)

Inclusivity:: Creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and included, regardless of their differences. (Source: The Centre for Volunteering)

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights (ICIP):: “The rights that Indigenous peoples have to protect their cultural heritage, including knowledge systems, arts, languages, resources, and related documentation about their heritage and histories.” (Source: Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health)

Indigenous Data Sovereignty:: The rights of Indigenous peoples to access data about themselves and to govern the collection, ownership, and application of data about their communities, lands, and resources, regardless of where the data are held. (Source: Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health)

Indigenous Knowledges:: Knowledge that has been passed down Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ families for tens of thousands of years. It has been successfully applied to maintain the quality of culture, health, and ecosystems. (Source: World Wide Fund for Nature Australia)

Indigenous Rights:: Recognises the right to self-determination of Indigenous Peoples and their right to control their lands, including sub-surface land, territories and resources and the right to the protection against any action or conduct that may result in the destruction or degradation of their territories and cultural way of life. (Source: Kavita Naidu) -> See the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in this glossary.

Indigenous:: “The earliest known inhabitants of lands and seas across the globe also referred to as “First Nations people.” (Source: J ustice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health)

Institutional Power:: Institutional power refers to the official authority to determine what is best for others and to decide who gets access to resources. It also involves the capacity to exert control over individuals or groups. (Source: Vanderbilt, Power & Privilege)

Intersectional Feminism:: A branch of feminism that recognises how different forms of discrimination, such as sexism, racism, classism, and homophobia, intersect and affect individuals in unique ways. It acknowledges that women experience oppression differently based on factors like race, sexuality, disability, and class, and it aims to address these overlapping inequalities to achieve true gender equality for all. (Source: International Women’s Development Agency) -> See Feminism in this glossary

Intersectionality:: How different aspects of one’s personality and locality expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination, marginalisation, political discourse, social discourse, ecological collapse and climate change. Specifically, climate change can impact certain populations positively (via privilege) or negatively (via oppression), depending on the intersections of gender, class, caste, religion, ethnicity, language, age, housing and socioeconomic status. (Source: Intersectionality & Climate Justice: A call for synergy in climate change scholarship)

Just Transition:: A framework that seeks to ensure that the shift to a green economy is fair and equitable, especially for workers and communities that are currently dependent on industries contributing to climate change. (Source: UNDP – Climate Promise). Just transition is the right of all workers employed in extractive, fossil fuel and other greenhouse-gas producing industries to a safe and healthy work environment without being forced to choose between an unsafe livelihood based on unsustainable production and unemployment. (Source: Kavita Naidu)
Read more: Indigenous Peoples Principles and Protocols for Just Transition, Summit 2024)

LGBTQIA+:: People that identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Intersex and/or Asexual with the + encompassing other sexual orientations. (Source: Pride Foundation Australia)

Market-Based Mechanisms:: Any market-based or technological solution to climate change, such as carbon trading and carbon sequestration, should be subject to principles of democratic accountability, ecological sustainability and social justice. (Source: Kavita Naidu) -> Visit: False Climate Solutions and Undermining Tactics and HOODWINKED Climate False Solutions.

Misinformation:: False or misleading information that is spread. (Source: National Library of Australia) -> See Disinformation in this glossary

Mitigation:: Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases, thereby minimising the extent of climate change.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) represent the individual commitments made by each country to address climate change. These contributions outline specific strategies for reducing national greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience to the adverse effects of climate change. NDCs serve as a cornerstone of the Paris Agreement, where countries pledge to take climate action by setting targets based on their unique circumstances and capabilities. (Source: United Nations Climate Change)

Oppression:: Oppression is created through 4 interlocking phases so that the majority no longer need to exert force. (Source: Western Justice Center).
– Ideology: the dominant group associating positive traits with themselves and negative traits with anyone else.
– Institutional: how systems manifest the dominant ideology by controlling access to legal rights, protection, medical care and education, public policy, political power and media.
– Interpersonal: the way people play out discrimination and violence against each other through jokes, harassment, and stereotypes. All three i’s lead to internalisation ->
– Internalised: how people with marginalised identities internalise feelings of inferiority.

Patriarchy:: A socially constructed system where men hold power and dictate policy. It informs politics, business, religion, economics, ownership and therefore socially accepted norms. It is hierarchical and elevates the status of men. (Source: Your Community Health)

Peer Supervision:: Peer supervision refers to structured, regular support provided by an experienced peer worker to Lived Experience workers. It is a collaborative process that focuses on reflection, guidance, and development specific to the unique aspects of Lived Experience work. Unlike traditional supervision, peer supervision centres on shared lived experiences and peer values, helping workers navigate role-related challenges while maintaining the integrity of peer work. This approach fosters professional growth, emotional support, and reinforces the principles of peer practice. (Source: Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Framework)

Planetary Health:: “Indigenous holistic concept of mental health that encompasses domains such as connection to Country, culture, family, and community.” (Source: Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health)

Prebunking (vs. Debunking): Prebunking is the proactive strategy of countering misinformation before it spreads, equipping and “inoculate” people with facts and critical thinking skills to recognise and resist false narratives, in contrast to debunking, which corrects misinformation after it has circulated, prebunking works to inoculate people against false claims from the outset. For climate justice, prebunking is crucial because misinformation about climate change often delays urgent action, undermines public understanding, and perpetuates harmful policies. By proactively addressing and correcting false narratives, such as climate denial or misinformation spread by fossil fuel interests, prebunking helps foster informed communities and supports equitable, science-based solutions to the climate crisis. This ensures that marginalised voices, who are most affected by climate change, are protected from manipulation and their struggles are addressed with integrity. (Source: How to inoculate against climate misinformation? University of Technology Sydney)

Prejudice:: Internal judgements on groups of things, animals or people that impact how you view the world. Prejudice creates an ‘us’ and ‘them’ and makes you wary of other groups so you begin to avoid other people. This can lead to discrimination through unfair and unequal treatment. (Source: Anne Frank House)

Privilege:: Is how similar you appear to be to the dominant culture. You will see people that look like you on television and in positions of power. This means those who do not look like the dominant culture face challenges unseen by others. (Source: Explaining privilege to children through a race, ABC)

Protest Rights (in Australia):: The Australian right to freedom of assembly comes from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It protects the rights of individuals and groups to meet for a common purpose in a peaceful way. There is no Commonwealth legislation that enshrines this freedom. (Source: A ustralian Governme nt). -> Protes Criminalisation in Western Australia: The Human Rights Law Centre rates the WA anti-protest laws as excessive, criminalising peaceful protests & breaching international human rights laws (Source: Human Rights Law Centre) -> Visit False Climate Solutions and Undermining Tactics

Race:: Social constructionists’ views propose that the concept of race—i.e., the belief that a classification based on skin colour and other skin-deep properties like body shape or hairstyle maps onto meaningful, important biological kinds—is a pseudo-biological concept that has been used to justify and rationalise the unequal treatment of groups of people by others. (Source: Social Construction and the Concept of
Race)

Racism:: A process where systems and policies, paired with actions and attitudes, create unequal opportunities or outcomes based on race. It is accompanied by the power to discriminate, oppress, and limit the rights of others. (Source: Australian Human Rights Commission)

Redistribution of Power and Resources:: The manner in which something is shared is different from past practices. -> See Anstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation and Sharing Power with Community in this glossary

Reflexive (vs. reflection):: Reflection is simply thinking about an issue whereas reflexivity is about interrogating collusion with oppressive systems and producing strategies for mitigating or addressing these challenges.
“Reflective practice is a process by which you: pause and think about your practice; consciously analyse your decision making; and draw on theory to relate it to what you did (or didn’t do) in practice. Reflexivity is finding strategies to question our own attitudes, thought processes, values, assumptions, prejudices and habitual actions, to strive to understand our complex roles in relation to others. To be reflexive is to recognise we are active in shaping our surroundings, and begin critically to take circumstances and relationships into consideration rather than merely reacting to them, and help review and revise ethical ways of being and relating in our world.”
(Source: Learning for Sustainability)

Regenerative (Ecology):: The manner in which an ecosystem can restore, renew and regenerate itself after having been damaged.

Relinquishment of Power or Sharing Power with Community:: The act of handing over control or authority. In the context of climate justice, relinquishing power involves sharing authority with communities affected by climate change. We often talk about empowerment, but true empowerment also requires giving up some of the power held by decision-makers. This approach ensures that those most impacted have a meaningful role in shaping and implementing solutions, promoting fairness and inclusivity in climate action. (Source: Community-Led Collaboration for Climate Justice)

Renewable Energy:: Energy derived from resources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Renewable Energy is inherently just and fair. Also see Community Owned Renewable Energy. (Source: Climate False Solutions)

Resilience Capacities:: Oxfam describes that resilience capacity requires agency, and it includes three closely related capacities. These are: absorptive, adaptive, transformative
resilience capacities -> Visit The Future is a Choice

Resilience:: The ability of a system or community to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
– Eco-social system resilience: refers to the ability of a combined social and ecological system to adapt to changes and disturbances while continuing to develop. It highlights the interconnectedness of humans and nature, emphasising that our ecosystems are shaped by human activities and that we, in turn, rely on these ecosystems for essential services like food, water, and climate regulation. Resilience in this context involves using challenges, such as climate change or financial crises, as opportunities for renewal and innovative solutions. This concept encourages flexibility and the capacity to cope with unexpected events, promoting sustainable living within the Earth’s limits while considering social, cultural, and institutional factors (Source: Brock University).
– Psychological resilience: in the context of climate justice, refers to an individual’s ability to adapt and transform their thoughts and behaviours in response to the challenges posed by climate change. This resilience is influenced by personal histories and existing traumas, making it a unique experience for each person. Importantly, resilience is not achieved in isolation; it relies on external resources and social connections. The process of becoming resilient can be stressful, particularly for those with significant past traumas, as it often involves profound personal transformation. (Source: Psychological resilience for climate change transformation: relational, differentiated and situated perspectives)

Safer spaces:: Safer spaces are places, whether in person or online, that aim to be more welcoming and respectful for everyone, especially for people from marginalised communities like the LGBTQIA+ community. Unlike the idea of a perfect “safe space,” which is hard to achieve, safer spaces focus on making environments better and more supportive. This means paying attention to different kinds of safety:
– Physical safety involves having a safe location and making sure there are emergency plans.
Psychological safety encourages people to share their thoughts openly.
– Emotional safety respects and acknowledges everyone’s feelings.
The goal is to keep improving and having meaningful conversations, understanding that everyone has different needs and experiences. By working towards safer spaces, we commit to learning and growing together to make everyone feel included. (Source: Spectrum South)

Self-Determination:: The continuing process of ensuring people can exercise their own choices, participate and control the matters and issues which affect their own lives and destinies. (Source: Human Rights Australia)

Sexism:: Prejudice or discrimination based on sex. Sexism functions to maintain male domination and power (patriarchy), through ideological practices of individuals, groups and institutions designed to oppress people because of their gender. (Source: Britannica)

Shift to clean and renewable energy:: Calls for clean, renewable, locally controlled and low-impact energy resources in the interest of a sustainable planet for all living things. The right of all people, including the poor, women, rural and indigenous peoples, to have access to affordable and sustainable energy. (Source: Kavita Naidu)

Social Justice:: Social justice is the foundation of a fair society where everyone’s rights and dignity are respected. It involves a collective effort to ensure that all people have equal opportunities and that no one is excluded. There are four main principles of social justice: human rights, which state that everyone deserves fair treatment and freedom, participation, where everyone should have a say in decisions that affect their lives, ensuring diverse voices are heard; access, meaning that all individuals should be able to obtain basic needs like food and shelter, as well as opportunities for education and jobs; and equity, which recognises that different people have different needs, so resources should be distributed in a way that helps everyone succeed, particularly those who face disadvantages. (Source: Oxfam – Social Justice)

Social Licence to Operate (SLO):: Social Licence to Operate is an emergent concept in resource development, particularly in sectors like forestry, where it represents the community’s acceptance and trust in a company’s operations. While SLO has the potential to foster genuine dialogue and build consensus among diverse stakeholders, it also carries significant risks. The term can become a rhetorical device manipulated by various interest groups—industry, government, NGOs, and communities—to serve their own political objectives. This ambiguity risks diluting its meaning and effectiveness, potentially leading to conflicts over expectations and experiences. Ultimately, the power of SLO lies in its ability to facilitate trust, fairness, and meaningful stakeholder engagement rather than becoming a catch-all justification for actions taken in resource development contexts. (Source: The social licence to operate: A critical review)

Solidarity for Climate Justice:: Solidarity for Climate Justice is unity, mutual support, and standing together with climate-impacted and marginalised communities. It recognises how systems of oppression—such as patriarchy, colonialism, class oppression, capitalism, racism, ableism, and heteronormativity—intersect with climate justice. Solidarity means actively working towards liberation from these systems whilst ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against climate change. It requires inclusive, intersectional climate action that addresses the unique challenges faced by diverse communities. (Source: Organising Cools the Planet: Tools and Reflections to Navigate the Climate Crisis)

Stereotype:: A generalised and widely held belief, embedded in society about an aspect of that society. For example, groups may be stereotyped on the basis of gender, race, socioeconomic status, nationality, age or language.

Sustainable Development:: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, considering economic, social, and environmental aspects.

Symbolic Action:: An action, announcement, event or procedure that represents a significant change, however, has little to no tangible outcome. For example, political announcement of an ambition emission reduction target responding to demands from society with no intention of following through.

Systemic Oppression:: The structures of power reinforce white supremacy, patriarchy and heteronormativity, resulting in the marginalisation of communities that do not conform to the dominant structure owing to their intersectionality. Intersectionality are aspects of a person’s identity including the social characteristics of (but not limited to) gender, ethnicity, nationality, language, age and ability. (Center for Law and Social Policy)

Systemically Marginalised Groups / Marginalisation:: Marginalisation occurs when a person or groups of people are not able to access basic services and opportunities or participate in life activities owing to aspects of a person’s identity that do not conform to the dominant social expectation. Aspects of a person’s identity can include social characteristics such as including (but not limited to) gender, ethnicity, nationality, language, age and ability. (Source: Liberties, Democracy & Justice)

Systems of Power and Oppression:: The beliefs, practices and cultural norms are based on historic social constructions of race and gender, which continue in present-day policies and practices. These oppressive structures reinforce white supremacy, patriarchy and heteronormativity, resulting in the marginalisation of communities that do not conform to the dominant structure. (Center for Law and Social Policy)

Tokenism:: The act of making merely a symbolic gesture to seem more diverse by incorporating minority groups aimed at avoiding criticism and projecting an image of diversity, inclusivity, and equality as fundamental values. (Source: Climate Justice needs and Intersectional Approach)

Transformative Action:: The practice of real change and difference-making. Actions that promote social and climate justice by addressing inequity and challenging sociopolitical systems and hidden socio-structural factors of oppression and privilege. (Source: Transformative Action: A Theoretical Framework for Breaking New Ground)

Transformative Leadership:: A creative, collaborative and participatory approach based on the premise that anyone can lead in a transformative moment. Understanding of the word and one’s approach to existing can be positioned through the orientation of being, relating, knowing and doing. (Montuori & Donnelly, 2017)

Transformative capacity:: Transformative capacity refers to the ability of individuals or communities to intentionally change and adapt in response to challenges, particularly in the context of climate change and sustainability. It involves cultivating specific skills that enhance awareness of natural and human-made systems, developing a strong sense of agency, and fostering social cohesion within a community. By building these capacities, individuals and groups can move from reactive adaptation to proactive transformation, ultimately promoting resilience and thriving in the face of change. (Source: Newell et al. 2021)

Transparency:: A situation in which political, business and financial activities are done in an open way without secrets so that people can trust that they are fair and honest. (Source: Cambridge Dictionary).

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP): The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is a landmark document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. It sets out the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples, including their rights to self-determination, land, culture, language, and resources. The Declaration emphasises the need for Indigenous peoples’ free, prior, and informed consent in decisions that affect their lives, territories, and cultures. It also highlights the importance of equality, non-discrimination, and respect for their distinct cultural identities. UNDRIP serves as a global framework to promote justice and reconciliation for Indigenous peoples, urging states and other entities to implement its principles in collaboration with Indigenous communities. For the full document, visit UNDRIP on the UN website.

Unsustainable Consumption:: Unsustainable production and consumption practices are at the root of this and other global environmental problems. Unsustainable consumption exists primarily in developed countries and among elites (Source: Kavita Naidu).

Vulnerability (climate change):: The degree to which a system is susceptible to and unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate change, including social, economic, and environmental factors. Considerations regarding vulnerable groups,communities and ecosystems in the context of the national adaptation plans (Source: UNFCCC)

Youth Climate Justice:: Youth justice in climate action means ensuring young people have a fair role in shaping a sustainable future. It is about recognising their potential to contribute to solutions and supporting their right to a healthy environment. Essentially, it is to stand with youth in solidarity and empower youth to help lead the way to a stable, equitable, and thriving world for all (Source: Australian Youth Climate Coalition).