Leveraging critical race theory to produce equitable climate change adaptation

Climate change and adaptation are inextricably connected to justice and equity. Often, researchers and decision-makers conceptualize climate justice through frameworks of distributive and procedural justice, which have been central to environmental justice discourse for decades. However, critical race theory provides alternative perspectives. Here I identify three themes that are most salient to climate change adaptation discourse: (1) racialization and race consciousness, (2) racial capitalism and (3) intersectionality. By drawing on these themes, I articulate a framework to analyse how racialized climate injustices are reproduced and can be ameliorated. As this Perspective demonstrates, climate adaptation informed by critical race theory can effectively challenge dominant systems of marginalization in contrast to status quo adaptation practices that uphold inequitable power dynamics.