Introduction

Abstract

In the introductory section, we briefly present the contributions of the anthology and discuss some of the common threads that link these diverse perspectives to each other. This volume brings together scientific perspectives on the global climate crisis from eleven different countries worldwide. It covers international and multidisciplinary perspectives on the consequences of the unequal production and distribution of fossil wealth, the associated conflicts over the distribution of resources, power and responsibilities, and the mechanisms of their justification. The introduction presents some key theoretical terms and concepts that run through the contributions and can help to reflect more closely on the complex relationships between the different perspectives and spatial variances dealt with in this volume. While the first part of the introduction and the book is mainly dedicated to the structures and mechanisms of global inequality and the realities of the climate crisis in some countries of the Global South, the second part focuses on concepts of climate justice and the last part on the cultural and political practices that have developed on the basis of the global inequality structures outlined above and their historical precedents. The anthology shows that the climate crisis affects all societies, but not all equally. Many countries of the Global South are still suffering the most from the consequences of climate change. As the climate crisis escalates, the historically evolved and persistent structures of global inequality are moving to the centre of debates and fear of a loss of status and prosperity is spreading, especially in the affluent, industrialised societies of the Global North. This is accompanied by a strengthening of the radical right which is mobilising fears of loss with the promise of a return to an imagined status quo and is putting democratic societies and global climate protection to the test.