WRITTEN BY:
Jonathan West
The climate crisis is no longer looming on the horizon; it is a dark storm cloud sitting above our heads. From relentless heatwaves to unprecedented floods, the signs are all around us, growing more urgent by the day. These extreme weather events are not just environmental in nature, they are disrupting lives, straining public services, and deepening existing inequalities. As we navigate this growing emergency, it is clear that the climate crisis is not only an environmental issue, but it is a human rights issue.
On April 16, 2025, SECTION27 hosted a Roundtable titled: “Lessons in Overcoming Barriers in Climate Justice Advocacy.” The roundtable aimed to identify how different organisations within the climate change sector were addressing climate change and identify different strategies for overcoming some of the barriers to effective climate justice advocacy.
The Roundtable included diverse stakeholders, such as legal experts, researchers, climate change specialists, and community-based organisations. This variety of perspectives is essential for understanding climate change, as the issue is complex and affects various aspects of society in multiple ways.
A presentation from SECTION27’s Head of Health, Khanyisa Mapipa, kicked off the discussions. She presented on how the rights to education and healthcare services intersect with climate change, and discussed necessary actions to ensure resilience in these sectors. Her presentation set the foundations for the discussions and left us asking one important question: “Through all of our efforts, have we actually been able to shift the needle?”
Many climate change activists resonate with these sentiments as they dedicate themselves to bringing about meaningful change in a global system that is gradually harming our planet and negatively impacting the well-being of millions of people. Each participant at the gathering has been using various tools to protect and promote human rights in response to the climate crisis, and yet many felt that such efforts were in vain.
The discussions agreed that it was not for nothing that we all committed our time and resources to the issue of climate change. In fact, it is essential that we reflect on our wins and remain committed. An example of such a win was Cancel Coal, where a youth-led campaign resulted in a landmark ruling by the High Court. This ruling declared the state’s decision to introduce 1,500 megawatts of new coal-fired power generation unconstitutional. The victory established a precedent for youth-led climate change activism and showed that we can and must continue to hold the state accountable to its climate change commitments. This group of forty stakeholders was guided by the desire to learn, and each individual put on their best thinking hat. During the discussion, participants were invited to share insights about their work and reflect on some of the sector’s most pressing issues. The tools used by the participants varied widely, including litigation, advocacy, research, and technical implementation.
However, regardless of the methodology employed, all participants faced challenges and barriers along the way. Many expressed concerns about the lack of effective policy implementation, an ongoing issue that has affected our nation for some time. Others mentioned social barriers and the persistent denial of climate change within communities. This denial is not limited to grassroots levels; some senior politicians and State continue to overlook the reality of the climate crisis and its impact on people’s livelihoods.
One of the greatest challenges faced in the sector is the availability of data. The complexity of climate change means that it is not always possible to draw connections between the impacts of extreme weather events and the conditions that increase their frequency. The lack of data makes it hard to advocate for change when the sectors that we seek to change, such as health and education, are already struggling to meet their mandates. The time for change was yesterday, and although systems around us struggle to meet targets, if changes aren’t made, the systems will collapse in the future.
This issue is closely related to the fact that many proposed climate change strategies are not adaptable and offer only linear solutions. One example of this thinking is the use of air conditioning to address heat vulnerability. These solutions do not consider socioeconomic status, making them unimplementable in rural settings. Often, we tend to apply one-size-fits-all solutions to very unique situations. As a result, these approaches fail to provide any significant relief or meaningful progress.
This leaves vulnerable communities susceptible and powerless to fight against the climate crisis. As such, it became clear in the discussions that one of the most meaningful interventions that needs to take place is the mobilisation and empowerment of communities. Our strategies must flow from the ground up, bringing meaning to the lives of those we hope to assist.
In order to effectively empower communities, we must focus on the language we use to discuss climate change and climate justice. The science cannot be ignored, but it must be communicated in ways that make sense so that communities can begin to realise what climate change looks like to them and how it manifests in their lives.
Through this empowerment, the hope is that engagement with state departments and political actors will be more meaningful. Community-based organisations at the roundtable voiced their experiences of being listened to but not heard. Their consultations with the state felt like more of a tick box exercise than a purposeful engagement.
The participants emphasised the intersections of our work and the necessity for our organisations to rely upon one another. The reality of climate change is that it requires a multidisciplinary and multidimensional approach. That means understanding how climate has both direct and indirect impacts and how these intersect.
Addressing climate change through an intersectional lens and focusing on indirect impacts allows us to better understand vulnerability. This means that strategies can be relevant to a broader audience, as they recognize how impacts can trigger chain reactions. Consequently, well-developed strategies can have a cascading effect in a similar manner.
The roundtable concluded with participants being asked to think creatively and develop strategies for various case studies relevant to the South African context. As these strategies were formulated, it became clear that while there is still significant work to be done, there are untapped pathways available to achieve climate justice.
This calls for increased collaboration and a stronger connection to the communities affected by the climate crisis. The state’s participation in the roundtable was a positive step forward. We need to move past the notions of winners and losers, as well as heroes and villains. The truth is that everyone is deeply implicated in the climate crisis, and it necessitates participation and support from all parties involved.
The climate crisis requires more than scattered responses and symbolic gestures; it demands sustained, coordinated, and community-focused action. The SECTION27 roundtable emphasised that while the journey ahead is undeniably challenging, it is not impossible. By embracing intersectionality, fostering collaboration, and grounding our strategies in the lived experiences of communities, we can begin to make meaningful progress. The urgency of our situation compels us not to wait for perfect conditions. Instead, it demands that we act now with empathy, intention, and the firm belief that climate justice is both necessary and achievable. The real question we face is not whether we can shift the needle, but whether we can afford to let the needle drop any lower.
West is a Candidate Attorney at SECTION27.
0 Comments