This unit explores how we can reduce emissions by a fair share and set up climate reparations
Learning objectives:
- Analyse how the causes and impacts of climate change are unevenly distributed across regions, and how these injustices can be remedied
GreenComp alignment:
- Systems thinking
- Critical thinking
- Political agency
This unit could be used in politics, social science or geography classes. We recommend that you complete the unit on Climate Injustice first.
Unit project:
For the project, students will find one area of this topic they would like to investigate. The investigation doesn’t have to go any further – the main objective is that students learn how to zoom in on specific topics within a broader topic, like a journalist does.
Time frame:
We recommend spending one to two classes on this unit.
Lessons slides can be found here.
Extra resources for further reading
Coumarou F. Mfochivé and Matthias Schmelzer (2024) on Climate debt and reparations. https://konzeptwerk-neue-oekonomie.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dossier_ClimateDept_digital.pdf
LSE (2025) on Climate reparations and the language of justice: a legal imperative. https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/climate-reparations-and-the-language-of-justice-a-legal-imperative/
Oxfam International on climate inequality:
- Carbon Inequality Kills: Why curbing the excessive emissions of an elite few can create a sustainable planet for all (2024) https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/carbon-inequality-kills-why-curbing-the-excessive-emissions-of-an-elite-few-can-621656/
Climate Equality: A Planet for the 99% (2023) https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/climate-equality-a-planet-for-the-99-621551/
