Climate Justice

by Mary Robinson

An urgent call to arms by one of the most important voices in the international fight against climate change, sharing inspiring stories and offering vital lessons for the path forward.

Holding her first grandchild in her arms in 2003, Mary Robinson was struck by the uncertainty of the world he had been born into. Before his fiftieth birthday, he would share the planet with more than nine billion people--people battling for food, water, and shelter in an increasingly volatile climate. The faceless, shadowy menace of climate change had become, in an instant, deeply personal.

Mary Robinson's mission would lead her all over the world, from Malawi to Mongolia, and to a heartening revelation: that an irrepressible driving force in the battle for climate justice could be found at the grassroots level, mainly among women, many of them mothers and grandmothers like herself. From Sharon Hanshaw, the Mississippi matriarch whose campaign began in her East Biloxi hair salon and culminated in her speaking at the United Nations, to Constance Okollet, a small farmer who transformed the fortunes of her ailing community in rural Uganda, Robinson met with ordinary people whose resilience and ingenuity had already unlocked extraordinary change.

Powerful and deeply humane, Climate Justice is a stirring manifesto on one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time, and a lucid, affirmative, and well-argued case for hope.

“As advocate for the forgotten and the ignored, Mary Robinson has not only shone a light on human suffering, but illuminated a better future for our world.” -Barack Obama

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Climate Change, Science, Sustainability, Politics, Nature

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Mary Therese Winifred Robinson (née Bourke; Irish: Máire Bean Mhic Róibín) served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002.

Reviews

[Megan O'Hara · Rating 3 out of 5]

my feelings about this book are very complicated! first off I don't think I am the intended audience, it's more for the uninitiated which doesn't mean it was bad it just didn't land for me personally. second of all I felt like I was reading a term paper which does mean it's bad or at least mediocre. I think the idea is good but a little misguided! foregrounding activists the majority of whom are indigenous women is great but her narration is perhaps not the best vehicle for their stories. at times it felt patronizing! she refers to all the activists by their first names except for the one chapter about Kiribati's former president who is a man and I just couldn't get down with it. also her references were WHO stats and NyMag articles which didn't make it feel any less pedestrian.

lastly, I appreciate this books optimism and its commitment to the reality of climate change being caused by the rich and suffered by the poor. but girl it's getting dire and the global economy needed to be dismantled yesterday.

[Sam Pfab Hospo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick yet important read. I started it this morning and just finished.

Robinson, former President of Ireland, does a phenomenal job of painting a picture of the reality of climate change in a global context. My eyes were opened through the various personal stories of people experiencing climate crisis on the ground level all across the world. Each chapter, focusing on a different individual's experience in the climate crisis, further expanded my understanding of the severity of the problem while telling stories to bring these realities to light.

While reading, I was constantly and continuously reminded of my privilege. Specifically, in the fact that I often have a choice whether or not to care about climate change. I have a choice whether or not to educate myself on the issue. I have a choice whether or not to even be aware of it. This book wakes up those of us with this privilege that this is not a shared luxury across the world. That many, whether in experiencing a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina or in making plans to migrate from the islands of Kiribati with the impending engulfment of their land by the sea, do not get to choose whether or not to care because it affects their everyday livelihood. Which brings another overall thematic piece of the book of intersectionality.

I am left with a few thoughts. First, that the text continued to return to the idea of "thinking globally, acting locally." That we must recognize the interconnectedness we must embrace in order to care beyond ourselves--to care for our current global neighbors and for the children of the future. We must adopt this mindset and allow it to enact smaller changes in our daily lives that will cause a larger, connected systemic change. Further, I am left with the question of how I will hold myself accountable and how I will continue momentum to care when I will undoubtedly continue to encounter the choice to do so each day.

[Kelsey Ebling · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book tells the stories of people around the globe whose everyday livelihood is affected by climate change. if you're looking for practical advice on lowering your carbon footprint, this book isn't going to tell you. but it will give you a lot of why power for taking climate change seriously and looking for next steps to do your part.

[Camille McCarthy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was pretty terrible, especially in hindsight (it was published two years ago). Mary Robinson talks about how she never realized climate change was so important until her grandson was born and she realized he would have to deal with it all and might not have a world to inhabit soon. That she could be president of Ireland and not have a real understanding of climate change's immediacy and seriousness is frankly horrifying. Most of the book was about different people who are on the frontlines of climate change, mostly women of color in impoverished communities, and how they are dealing with it and begging people to pay attention. She includes an Australian woman who is encouraging people to use fewer plastic products but this just seemed like she was trying to even out the book so that it wasn't all about peoples' lives being destroyed by rising seas, floods, or droughts. Then towards the end there is a "yay!" part about the Paris Accord, where she pats herself and everyone in the UN on the back for the accord, even though, two years on now, we haven't seen anything, and communities on the frontlines are still getting screwed, even more.

[Emmkay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to hear Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland, speak at an event a few years ago - she's energetic, intelligent, and has had a remarkable public service career. Her most recent work in the international realm involves what she terms 'climate justice,' based on the realization that human rights and climate change are inextricably linked. This slim volume explains the concept and is framed around 11 individuals whose climate-justice work she highlights. For example, a Thai woman working to combat deforestation through local forest management, a union leader in the Fort McMurray oil sands (I thought the material on a 'just transition' for fossil fuel workers was fascinating), and so on.

I have to say I find reading about climate change hard, because the problem is so overwhelming and we seem to be stuck. However, I was able to manage this book - it was generally interesting (though the tone was a bit bland), I learned things, and the examples of people working positively on the issues gave both some cause to hope and an understanding of how individuals can contribute positively.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book. Incredibly important and relevant topic, but Mary Robinson just didn't seem like the right person to tell the story. Her writing was hard to follow, and was clearly the work of a privileged person telling the stories of those with less privilege. Yes, the stories need to be told and I appreciate her using her status to get the message out there. But there was still a tone of condescension that I couldn't shake.

It's one of those books that I'm not sure how to get rid of--do I leave it in a little lending library and know someone else will read it? If you've never before encountered the idea that climate change has a disproportionate & unjust impact, sure, you'd learn something. But if you know that's a reality already, read a book from someone who's lived it, not someone who is passing on others' stories second-hand.

[Angie Reisetter · Rating 4 out of 5]

American environmentalists could really use a shot in the arm right now, and this story-telling book by the former president of Ireland and climate change activist may be just the ticket. She has the experience to lend international context to the effort to mitigate climate change, and she shares the stories of 11 individuals from all over the world who are experiencing climate change first hand. In so many ways, individual stories of suffering but also empowerment are more effective at inspiring activism than statistics. I hearken from the land of science and statistics (for instance, I really want to tell you that only 2 of the 11 people featured in the book are male), but we must never lose sight of the fact that climate change is a fundamentally human topic. It's man-made, and humans stand to lose the most from it. Mother Earth is gonna do just fine -- she has survived many catastrophes before. Humanity is far more frail. So these stories focus on climate justice, the social implications of climate change and why it's so important to fight the rising tide.

It's a wonderful and timely font of inspiration. This December, there will be another climate summit focused on implementing the Paris Accord, and our federal government will be, let's say, underrepresented. But they are not the only players. The voices that matter are those who are engaged in this fight for justice. And there are a lot of us.

I got a copy to review from Net Galley.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this accessible and inspiring look at climate change, its affects around the globe, and its intersection with poverty and inequality. Told mostly through stories on how various "everyday people" around the world are doing their own work to halt and reverse the devastating effects of climate change, Mary Robinson (former president of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) makes this issue personal and relatable, and while she does raise the alarm at the current and potential future issues arising from climate change, she also highlights solutions both big and small.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, provided by the author and/or the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia (wortknistern) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally I really like the book's idea of putting indigenous people and their suffering from climate change into the center of the narrative, but for some reason the book didn't grip me. I think for one, the tone of the book was pretty monotonous and secondly, i agree with other comments that maybe Mary Robinson should've maybe let those people talk for themselves.
Also, while the (white) lady from Australia, who went from not even recycling to creating a website to encourage other people to be more sustainable, was inspirational, i just really woul've prefered another indegenous voice here and would've loved reading about an aboriginal climate activist!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible stories of women fighting climate change.

[Printed Pages and Coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here, we have one of the best books I have read in 2018: Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future by Mary Robinson.

For those of you who may not know, Mary Robinson is what we would call a complete badass. Former President of Ireland, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, lawyer, campaigner, activist, all around seriously AWESOME woman. She has also created the Mary Robinson Climate Justice foundation, which is exactly what it sounds like: a foundation that works towards education and advocacy for those peoples that have suffered, are suffering, and will suffer the negative impacts of climate change. Mary Robinson calls this movement climate justice, because much of the damage has been done by people, against other people (however knowingly or unknowingly).

This book, of the same name as her foundation, had me both fiercely proud of the women fighting toward climate justice and sustainable living, and in tears at how people have suffered and yet continue to work towards the betterment of society and the human race as a whole. The majority of this books is a series of what an academic would probably call case studies, but in this book are simply stories: true stories, painful stories, personal and private stories, triumphant stories. The activists that speak through this book, as well as the words and work of Mary Robinson herself, are incredibly powerful. More so for the fact that not a word is wasted: there is no flowery language, no ‘wanky words’ as a friend of mine calls them. Much like the author herself, the book is blunt, to the point, and accurate to the point of painful (in the best way).

I can’t honestly say I fell in love with this book as I have with others, because I don’t think this is the sort of book that you can fall in love with. It’s a call to arms, really; an acknowledgment of the danger we’re doing ourselves and our world as well as people we don’t even know or realize exist, a clarion call about how truly, terribly badly we’re fucking things up. What I can say is that this is a book that I have great admiration and respect for, as do I have for the author. I read the kindle version of this book; I can almost guarantee that as soon as the opportunity arises, I’m going to acquire a hard copy so I can have this on my shelf to re-read, and to lend to people. You need to read this. You really do. It won’t take you long: the book is surprisingly short, given the material and, I’m sure, the abundance of stories that remain in the wind, waiting for someone to take pen to paper and tell them.

You need to read this. You will appreciate it. You will regret it. You will be better for it.

Five star read, people.

[CarolineFromConcord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book, which shows how the biggest, wealthiest countries' activities, such as wasteful consumption and the burning of fossil fuels, have created an existential threat for small, poor countries. The book sounds like a downer, but it isn't at all. Reading the stories of poor women in impoverished areas who learn that the reason their communities are suffering from weather extremes is actually climate change -- and who stand up to speak on the world stage -- is totally inspiring. Although not all the profiles are about women or about poor women, they all show that ordinary people can take action to reverse the dangerous direction the planet has been taking since the Industrial Revolution.

Author Mary Robinson, once president of Ireland and later appointed by the United Nations to advocate for human rights, explains how it began to dawn on her that human rights issues could not be separated from what was happening to the planet, and how although the poor suffer first, the consequences are coming to us all.

I learned a lot. For example, I learned what labor activists are doing to ensure that the inevitable loss of jobs in polluting industries is not devastating to workers. I learned that adopting more sustainable practices won't hurt economic strength but is in fact essential to it in the long run. I learned how women, in many countries ignored and subjugated, have helped neighbors change harmful practices and then worked to ensure that their needs get addressed in the language of international agreements. And I loved seeing how these women often bonded with each other -- for example, the hairdresser from Biloxi who organized neighbors after Hurricane Katrina relief focused on saving casinos -- instead of people -- who became friends with the mother from Uganda whose crops had been failing from unheard of patterns of drought and flood.

Really good book. And hopeful, especially if it gives readers like us ideas for doing our part. (You can sign up at the website 1 Million Women to learn about small behavior changes that have a big impact.) The author shows how when people band together the impossible really becomes possible.

[Karen Armendariz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, okay, okay. I was so surprised by this book. I came in thinking that I would get the general review about the importance of fighting climate change to protect future generations. Instead, I got powerful narratives of how climate change is affecting the everyday lives of vulnerable populations across the globe.

While thinking of polar bears in the context of climate change is very important, it has been overdone in our conversations about climate change. By doing topics like like these ones, we neglect the experiences of people dealing with climate change in their everyday routines. This book does an amazing job in emphasizing these every day effects that climate crisis is having in vulnerable populations.

Another important aspect about this book is its strong female perspective. The stories of the women in this book show how women are being affected (For example: linking issues of domestic violence with climate change) and the powerful leadership that women are fostering in the climate change movement.

My other favorite thing is that it incorporates the story of fossil fuel workers. Their story is as a relevant as those who suffer from the trickle down of weather changes. As we continue to fight for emissions reduction and transition to green energy and living, how are we making sure that these people are not left behind? The book shows that these people care and believe in climate change, but when their identities have been tied to a fossil fuel field, of course it will be hard for them to fully accept a transition to renewable energy.

Overall, I felt this book was extremely well-written and Robison picked the right stories and people to emphasize in her book. This book is also an excellent example of how someone can use their privilege to continue bringing attention a topic, that is often seen through a privileged lens, while amplifying the voices of vulnerable groups.

[Andrew Blok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Climate change is going to affect all of us, but it's going to hurt some more than others. Often those hardest hit are women in developing nations. In this book, Mary Robinson tells the stories of some of the people (mostly women) who she's met and learned about in her work advocating for climate justice, the idea that any action on climate change needs to be rooted in equitable requirements and developments that don't put the burden on the poorest people who have done the least to contribute to the problem. From the Arctic to Thailand to Uganda to Australia, Robinson tells the stories of people who have felt the effects of climate change and decided to do something about it. The book is disturbing for the harm people have already felt from climate change and—at times—the bleakness of their homes' futures, but is overall hopeful that people are energetically working to solutions like their futures depend on it. If not theirs, then their kids'.

[Molly Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more of a 3.5, but I rounded up because I love Mary Robinson and this book was exactly what I needed it to be. I was looking for a relatively short and easy to read book for my Women's and Gender Studies class to read, and this fits the bill perfectly. Each chapter is stories of people (mostly women - only two contained men and they shared the chapter with a woman) who faced the ravages of climate change and who have made efforts to combat it in their own location. It is very hopeful, and the stories are interesting. If you are looking for something a little deeper or with more analysis, there are lots of other books that do that, but if you're looking for stories this one is great.

[Aoife · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book transforms climate change from an abstract scientific theory to the lived experiences of individuals. In doing so it clearly illustrates, not only the realities of climate change, but also the urgency with which we must act.
An excellent read that, rightfully, places climate change at the forefront and heart of all human rights and other actions we must make.

[Ayala Levinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important and inspiring.

[Mazmaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't exactly what I'd expected. It gives a great selection of (mainly female) climate change activists, many of whom only became this when climate change affected their lives. Mary Robinson is without question an impressive person from what she has achieved and all the people she's met through her UN travels! BUT her writing style didnt fill me with passion. It's easy to understand and accessible which I appreciate but she is relaying what are objectively breathtaking, inspiring, harrowing stories, but it's written in a tone that doesn't evoke those feelings as much as it could. I feel like with this book she was surely hoping to ignite change but the bland writing style makes it feel slightly less successful.

I DO like this book and its ultimately given me an insight into the very different kinds of climate change activism around the globe which i wouldn't have otherwise known about.
The key things Ive taken from this book are:
The Just Transition movement! It is crucial that people working in the fossil fuel industries are supported as we move to greener energy sources. Often entire communities are dependent on a local mine for work etc and its important that there is infrastructure in place to support them as we transition. The feeling that they are being supported will also reduce resistance to climate activism and the changes being made in the way our socities function.
Another thing is the fact that regardless of where you are based, climate change will always impact the poorest in society first, and the worst. I was much less shocked reading about a kenyan woman tackling drought (this is an sadly example of climate change taking place that I and most people i think are familiar with), than i was learning about the complete lack of support that the poorest groups in Mississippi recieved in the wake of hurricane Katrina. If we care about the strangers in 'developing' countries with changing weather patters etc, then we care about climate change, but also, if we care about the poorest groups/issues of class in our own countries and in the 'west', then we should care about climate change because it's always going to be the less econcomically priviledged who will suffer the most! I guess its reinforced to me the fact that climate change is a class/race/ablism issue.

[Pondie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very glad I read this book. I did not know as much as I probably should about Global Warming and Climate Change. It feels good to be a little more informed. This book made a huge impact on me as I traveled the globe hearing the stories of women, villagers, and individuals who have been struggling to survive because of climate change. We also heard about these individuals who have chosen to dedicate their lives to make the world better for the future. I was nervous this book would make me super depressed. It didn't. It made me feel informed and energized. "If women and children of developing countries are the most vulnerable to climate change, then women from wealthy countries have so much to contribute to the solution through the way we live (Natalie 104)." #ReadBrave

Climate Justice is a part of Read Brave Saint Paul 2020. The thought is everyone in Saint Paul should be "encouraged to engage in the program through reading, discussion, programming, and action. The 2020 Read Brave theme is 'Our Climate Crisis.'" "Climate Justice" is the Nonfiction pick and "The Marrow Thieves" is the main pick. I plan to read, "Marrow Thieves" next!

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book doesn't quite reflect its contents. This is a collection of stories about (mostly) women in (mostly) rural communities who are disproportionately affected by climate change (and often least responsible for it), and who have taken strides to rally support, educate, lobby, create new organizations and end up (conspicuously often) speaking to the United Nations about their experiences to standing ovations. A little sugary sweet and a touch self-righteous/patronizing to the people it profiles, but I suppose that's the tone for mass-marketed edu-inspirational books on such topics.

Note: I wrote this review in a slightly salty mood, and I work in climate/energy and am therefore not the target audience, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

[Ellie Beranová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Climate Justice is an inspiring and empowering book, which tells deeply humane stories of ordinary people (mostly women) affected by the climate change. I love that the book is written in such an accessible and sympathetic way that is understandable even for people, who do not have that much knowledge about the topic. On the other hand, even if you know a lot about the climate change, the book is still worth reading just for the sake of the stories and inspiration that you might take from them. From my point of view, simple and real stories about ordinary people from all over the world are a powerful way to encourage others to do their best to fight for global climate justice. It works much more better for me than reading only bare scientific facts or abstract theories.

[starwolvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great accessible book which shows a more personal side to climate change.

Robinson gives us stories of people who are already being affected by the changing climate and what they are doing about it in an easy to read way which doesn't blast science in your face (although I don't mind science being blasted at me).

Recommended for people who want to know more but cant read/understand the more "science-y literature" out there.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stark, sombre, realistic, uplifting, necessary! My favourite quote is: "Impossible is not a fact, it's an attitude" - I think we all need to change to a different frequency regarding our attitude to climate change and focus on what we can do, right now.

[David Gilani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of brilliant stories of how different local leaders are combating the climate crisis. Would have been better with an overarching narrative of Mary’s own story and perspective. Sometimes it felt a bit... disjointed. The end wrapped it together fairly well

[Paris Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing like Amazing amazing and I need to buy the physical copy immediately.

👊🫴💸💵

[Michelle MM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of real-time stories of people affected by climate change, providing a background in how urgent our change for action is.

One way to battle climate change is to focus on climate justice, meaning considering everyone on board of this problem, including those who can't actively fight the change, let alone mitigate it.

Written plainly and in simple words, the red line throughout all the stories is the role that women from all over the world play on the world stage of seeking incentives for climate action.

Inspiring and a wake up call.

[Josephine Yeboah-Afari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book, it is not what I expected. It is basically a collection of stories of (mainly) women who are suffering from climate change, whom have an activist approach. I feel that she should let those people speak for themselves.

Besides that, for people who are familiar to the subiect of climate justice, it doesn’t bring very new insights.

[✨ aida ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oooo boy I have a lot of thoughts. What a roller coaster.

Simply put: this is climate activism... made palatable.

Which I guess.... was the intention? This book is a metaphorical extension of the hand to people who either a) have very limited knowledge of climate change and social justice or b) know they’re responsible for proliferating climate change and like to make themselves feel better about themselves by nodding along to these kinds of books.

I can appreciate Robinson’s attempt to centre the voices of the marginalised and therefore most effected by the changing climate (what she continually refers to as ‘grassroots’). And I will say that the chapter about the mining workers was good. But it just fell flat for me on so many levels.

First of all, writing about marginalised people from a privileged perspective is probably not the best way to convey their stories. Maybe (and here’s a wild idea) we can hear these stories from the people themselves? Perhaps elevating ‘grassroots’ voices means allowing them to actually speak, instead of telling their stories through your lens?? The actual people in the book and their life experiences are incredible but the way it is shared with us just rubbed me the wrong way. Robinson seems to have good intentions but at times her writing comes off as patronising. If this had been a collection of personal stories written by the people actually discussed in the book, with a foreword and afterword by Robinson, I think this could’ve been stellar. But this format of privileged white woman talking about marginalised people (which we’ve read a million times before) just did not sit well with me.

Another thing I want to comment on is the way in which this book is pandering to the masses. I already said this is climate activism made palatable and I really mean that. This was SUCH a tame exploration of an incredibly multifaceted topic. Climate change is INHERENTLY a result of colonial endeavours. And while Robinson takes measures to address ‘intersectionality’, there is really no unpacking of the colonial structure and no call to action for the dismantling of this structure. While I agree that we need to centre marginalised voices, it’s also like.... not their responsibility to fix what we fucked up lol. Can we have some attention paid to the BIGGEST PERPETRATORS of this catastrophe?? What are THEY doing? A lot of focus on the individual and like “if each of us recycles ☺️” without acknowledging that majority of our climate issues stem from the wealthy elite/people in power?? It just felt like a lukewarm attempt to be ‘woke’, saying some of the right things without being too ‘radical’.

Finally (and most strikingly, for me) WHY did the chapter addressing climate change in Australia NOT centre Indigenous voices and activism??? In fact, it didn’t mention Indigenous people AT ALL. She literally wrote a whole ass chapter about a white woman from the northern beaches discovering recycling what the heck 😭😭😭 In a book where all the other chapters at least TRY to centre Indigenous and/or marginalised stories, the way Aboriginal Australians were just skipped over in this chapter felt S O disrespectful. I actually had to put the book down before I could continue because I was just sitting there going “wtf????” Climate change in Australia is the DIRECT result of colonisation and the reason it is such a big issue today is because we are STILL a colonial structure. You CANNOT discuss climate change in Australia without talking about this and without centring Indigenous voices !!! I’m gonna SCREAM !!!! Literally knocked a whole star off the rating for this chapter whew what a mess.

Basically... this is not The Worst but for me it’s a halfway attempt at discussing a really important issue. And the chapter about Australia was absolute BULLSHIT.

This is the kind of book you read, then tell everyone you read it and agree with it and it makes you feel like you did something good even though you haven’t done anything to really address the issues at hand. It’s the illusion of insight and change without any true analysis and followthrough. Political posturing, if you will. So, I’m not surprised Barack Obama likes it. :)

P.S. reading about the catastrophic 2006 bushfires tho.... knowing what’s coming for australia in 2019/2020 ... lol that hurt. it do be gettin worse

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know about climate change & climate justice already, this probably isn't the book for you. If you've read Naomi Klein or gone to a climate march/XR protest or if you don't eat animal products (& if I'm describing myself in this rhetoric), a lot of this is stuff you already know and it's written in a somewhat insipid tone. But if you're also someone who needs to convince friends and family that climate change is a very real threat affecting very real people ... This book is a good start.

It's only a start though. Two hours of reading isn't enough.

[Aoife · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy I read this so early in the year and already have my five-star read and probably one of my favourite reads of 2020 already! Mary Robinson is just a gem!

In Climate Justice, Mary Robinson talks to different people (mostly female, POC and from indigenous tribes across the world) about the actual effects they have seen, lived through and battled of climate change and how it has changed their daily way of life. From women in Chad who have suffered both flooding and drought, and people believing the devastation was the wrath of God as they had no idea what climate change was, to an indigenous tribe in Eastern Europe whose reindeer are starving due to the effects of freezing and refreezing ice on tree lichen. The book also takes a look at working class people who depend on the fossil fuel industry to live, and how these people can be brought into the renewable sector without being left behind and left jobless/penniless, as well as privileged women in Australia who do their best everyday with a few household changes.

Mary Robinson says in this book, and in other media, that climate change is a human rights issue when you see how those most effected are generally people in lower class communities, and often those in POC communities and women fighting for their families. Women are agents of change, and can be so powerful with their voices when they speak up and begin to enact change. This book is full of stark realities about climate change, but is also full of hope, feminism and justice.

I loved reading the different stories - from islands in the Pacific, to New Orleans and Australia (it was particularly poignant reading about how bushfires a few years ago sparked change knowing now the devastation that has happened in recent months). I found each story was no more important than the next and everyone had so much important things to say, and how easy it is for those speaking to be drowned out by world leaders' voices - people from whose country wreck the most damage and are at most cause to what is happening in poorer, smaller countries.

A great book about climate change, and the people we need to start fighting for as well as ourselves.