Abstract

The global environmental crisis has often been framed through scientific and policy-centric lenses that emphasize carbon emissions rising temperatures and technological solutions. However this framing frequently obscures the deeply rooted social dimensions of environmental degradation and the unequal burdens it imposes on different populations. Climate justice emerges as a counter-narrative that centers equity historical responsibility and the lived experiences of marginalized communities. This paper explores the intersections of climate change and social inequality arguing that the environmental crisis cannot be addressed without confronting the structural injustices that shape exposure to environmental harms and access to resilience mechanisms. Drawing on historical context theoretical insights and realworld case studies the paper critically examines how climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and how meaningful climate action must include justice inclusion and reparative