Climate change is one of the most important development challenges facing the global south with its impact intersecting with all facets of human life. Mitigating the impact of climate change requires a concerted and diverse approach and collaboration between all stakeholders including government, industry,  communities, citizens  …. Unfortunately there is a power imbalance inherent in negotiating or accessing resources required for climate action that puts communities in the global south and indigenous people who are the most affected  at a huge disadvantage. These imbalances exist at the international, national and subnational levels and are evident  in unreasonable commitments demanded of the global south, exploitative contracts signed between national governments and multinational companies that absolve them of responsibility for pollution and destruction of the livelihoods of communities by the environmental degradation that stem out of the exploitation of natural resources. 

These examples highlight the need for justice and equity in climate action, most especially for the most vulnerable – communities in the global south whose environments are exploited, degraded and polluted with little or no protections from government and no mechanism for accessing justice.