In this module, Professor Cha explores the key components of a just transition, focusing on the policy and regulatory tools used to address climate change. You will examine how climate policy is developed through legislative and regulatory processes and how social movements influence and shape these efforts. The module also introduces competing visions of climate policy, comparing approaches centered on emissions reductions with those grounded in climate justice. By the end, you will be able to analyze recent policy developments through a climate justice lens and better understand the role of collective action in advancing equitable climate solutions.

In this module, Professor John Foran explores the global climate justice movement as a response to interconnected systems of inequality, including capitalism, colonialism, racism, patriarchy, and climate change. You will examine how diverse movements—from frontline communities in the Global South to youth-led initiatives and policy efforts—are working toward more just and sustainable futures. The module traces the origins, strategies, and challenges of this “movement of movements,” highlighting approaches such as nonviolent resistance and alternative frameworks like degrowth and buen vivir. By the end, you will understand how collective action, along with values like hope, care, and imagination, shapes efforts to address climate change and advance climate justice.