CLIMATE (IN)JUSTICE AS A PROBLEM FOR THE STATE, NOT THE MARKET

Abstract

We analyze, from a liberal-libertarian perspective, the concepts of climate justice and environmental racism, which have been used by some contemporary geographers. The market may produce urban segregation of the low-income population - such as unhealthy areas of the city or areas more susceptible to environmental disasters - but this is merely an externality that only distributes urban plots according to income, regardless of race or gender. In contrast, state action, this does translate into intentionality, capable of exemplifying climate (in)justice, when, in the name of controlling pollutant emissions or consumption levels of household appliances, it hinders or even prevents the poorest population from accessing older cars and motorcycles or lower-cost but higher-energy-consuming refrigerators.