Climate Justice Futures: Carbon Management Risks and Alternatives

Abstract Environmental justice (EJ) communities, often overburdened by generations of disproportionate pollution, have long called for a transformative climate mitigation agenda focused on climate justice. However, “carbon management” approaches have become increasingly popular in U.S. climate policies, despite opposition from EJ organizations who cite their risks. Factors contributing to this ascendancy of carbon management approaches include: (1) fossil fuel industry influence, (2) climate modeling’s reliance on carbon management in mitigation scenarios, and (3) federal agencies serving as catalytic investors. These factors are shaped by new political and legal mandates that promote investments and constrain oversight by federal agencies. The drivers raise EJ concerns and deflect resources from alternatives to carbon management and more just mitigation pathways. While forms of support for carbon management may shift with an administration change, the drivers analyzed have created policy and economic momentum, and EJ risks will likely persist around the projects and investments already underway.