Climate Change Adaptation Through Economic Democracy

As global climate change poses a serious threat to humanity's survival, equitable and just climate change adaptation has become the focus of several climate movements, social justice groups, governments, and international organizations. Climate sciences and studies have concluded that climate change not only impacts the planet's natural ecosystems, but also has cascading negative consequences on society and the economy. The existing paradigm of economic development has created vast wealth and resource inequality. The inequality further exacerbates the ill effects of climate change and makes vulnerable communities bear a disproportionate amount of the burden of climate catastrophes. This necessitates replacing the system that created the climate crisis with a holistic new vision for development to enable a justice-based climate change adaptation and sustainable growth. This paper discusses an integrated socio-economic vision, PROUT - The Progressive Utilization Theory, a climate justice movement, and policy proposals such as Job Guarantee and restructuring the nature of work. This discussion aims to find an alignment between holistic models of growth, policy proposals, and grassroots movements to strengthen communities through economic democracy and enable a justice-based climate change adaptation through self-reliant and resilient local economies.