Farhana Sultana (2021) illustrates the first approach by discussing the role insights from feminist scholarship could play in shaping collective action. The debate around usage of terms like Anthropocene, Plantationocene, Capitalocene in academic practice and their implications on describing the current epoch is another example (Schubert,2025). Academic debates can seem aloof, but can be source of legitimacy and discuss the normative principles that should guide policy formation as well as their merits and drawbacks (Krächi, 2025; Moellendorf, 2015).
With the climate crisis already underway, the need for policy requirements for specific adaptation measures. Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc on Beira, Mozambique. While the World Bank committed to finance adaptation measures, the housing budget was not enough to cover all those affected. In this case, assessment of who is most vulnerable and, thus, deserving of funding is a humongous undertaking. Confusion on this matter led reconstruction to first be owner- driven, then guided by selected NGOs to have ‘proper’ reconstruction. When funds were handed over to the city, reconstruction was carried out in areas which had not been flooded in the name of city redevelopment (Schubert,2025). Criteria for such policies needs to be meticulously detailed to assess needs to affected communities. For example, in Beira, fishing community land next to the coast was developed with these funds by the local government. The village was used to water flowing in and out of the land with changing tides. The ‘development’ led to waterlogging in the newly made houses, whereas previous constructions allowed for the flow of water (Schubert, 2025). Governance need not take such a top-down approach to adaptation, which ultimately does not serve the community appropriately. Climate justice needs to be considered with other forms of social justice to be effective and this requires the de-centring of existing actors with power in decision making spaces (Newell et al, 2021).
With the climate crisis already underway, the need for policy requirements for specific adaptation measures. Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc on Beira, Mozambique. While the World Bank committed to finance adaptation measures, the housing budget was not enough to cover all those affected. In this case, assessment of who is most vulnerable and, thus, deserving of funding is a humongous undertaking. Confusion on this matter led reconstruction to first be owner- driven, then guided by selected NGOs to have ‘proper’ reconstruction. When funds were handed over to the city, reconstruction was carried out in areas which had not been flooded in the name of city redevelopment (Schubert,2025). Criteria for such policies needs to be meticulously detailed to assess needs to affected communities. For example, in Beira, fishing community land next to the coast was developed with these funds by the local government. The village was used to water flowing in and out of the land with changing tides. The ‘development’ led to waterlogging in the newly made houses, whereas previous constructions allowed for the flow of water (Schubert, 2025). Governance need not take such a top-down approach to adaptation, which ultimately does not serve the community appropriately. Climate justice needs to be considered with other forms of social justice to be effective and this requires the de-centring of existing actors with power in decision making spaces (Newell et al, 2021).
Climate Justice: Basel in the World is a colloquium at the University of Basel, co-organized in the spring semester 2025 by students from the AG Nachhaltigkeit and Prof. Dr. Janina Grabs. It is supported through funding by Impuls.