Abstract
Between the wealthiest and the most vulnerable, between countries of the North and those of the South, between cities and rural areas... climate change acts as a powerful catalyst for inequality around the world. Findings from national agencies and NGOs often follow a similar pattern. The regions that contribute the least to the causes of climate change—that is, those that emit the least greenhouse gases—are often the hardest hit by its consequences. These consequences include droughts, extreme heat, and floods. A vicious cycle even seems to be taking shape. Climate change tends to further destabilize the most vulnerable people, making them increasingly susceptible to future disasters. For example, the CESE (Economic, Social, and Environmental Council) demonstrated in a report adopted in 2023 that, while women are more likely to adopt eco-friendly practices, they are generally more severely affected by extreme weather events than men. For example, 70% of those who died in the 2004 tsunami that struck the coasts of countries in the Indian Ocean were women.
These inequalities raise the challenge of climate justice—a challenge to which younger generations, in particular, are highly attuned. Aware of society’s expectations, the Collège de France, through its “Avenir Commun Durable” (Sustainable Common Future ) initiatives and its “Campus de l’innovation pour les lycées,” is organizing a seminar titled “Climate and Inequality” with students from the Joséphine-Baker High School in Toulouse. Professors Philippe Aghion and Katheline Schubert, along with Mr. Jean-François Delage, mayor of Kremlin-Bicêtre, and a representative from the nonprofit sector, will discuss this topic to outline a climate policy that ensures prosperity that is both greener and more equitable. Several high school classes from the Île-de-France region will be invited to attend the event and ask questions of the speakers.
