Climate Inequality and Environmental Justice: A Sociological Review of Power, Vulnerability, and Resilience

Climate change is not merely an environmental crisis but a profound social justice issue that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations worldwide. This review examines the sociological dimensions of climate inequality and environmental justice, exploring how power structures, socioeconomic disparities, and historical injustices shape differential vulnerabilities to climate impacts. Drawing on critical scholarship and empirical evidence, this article analyzes three interconnected themes: the mechanisms through which climate change exacerbates existing inequalities, the intersection of power and vulnerability in determining climate exposure, and the role of community resilience in challenging unjust environmental burdens. The review highlights how marginalized communities; including low-income populations, racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, and women, bear disproportionate climate risks despite contributing least to green-house gas emissions. Through examining case studies from both Global North and Global South contexts, this review article demonstrates how environmental justice movements challenge dominant power structures and advocate for equitable climate solutions. The analysis reveals that addressing climate inequality requires transformative approaches that center justice, equity, and the lived experiences of affected communities. This review contributes to ongoing discussions about climate justice by synthesizing sociological perspectives on power, vulnerability, and resilience, ultimately arguing for recognition of climate change as fundamentally a crisis of inequality.