Climate action and sustainable development: equity, justice and inclusion in developed vs. developing economies

Purpose This article introduces a special issue volume on climate action and sustainable development, with a central focus on equity, justice and inclusion (EJI). It examines how climate impacts and policy responses intersect with gender, labour and governance systems, applying an adaptation–maladaptation lens to identify challenges and opportunities for equitable and inclusive climate action. Design/methodology/approach The approach synthesises multidisciplinary insights from seven articles spanning developed and developing economies. It employs an adaptation–maladaptation framework to analyse climate action through gendered experiences, policy design, labour transitions, and governance capacity. Findings The articles highlight how climate change disproportionately affects those least responsible for its causes, with vulnerabilities compounded by existing socioeconomic and structural inequalities. Weak global emissions-reduction commitments have facilitated maladaptive practices – notably increased reliance on energy-intensive technologies – that perpetuate vulnerability. Across the volume, authors illustrate the need for gender-responsive policies, just transitions in labour markets and equitable governance mechanisms that integrate EJI considerations into climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Originality/value As an introductory article, this piece does not present original empirical data. Instead, it synthesises findings and identifies a conceptual gap – the under-theorised relationship between adaptation–maladaptation outcomes and EJI principles in empirical climate research. It concludes with a call for future research evaluating the long-term impacts of climate interventions on diverse and marginalised groups.