Language is a Barrier to Climate Action
Language is vital for expressing ideas and communicating concerns. Action to combat the climate crisis relies on raising awareness and empowering positive change. Despite this, the English language dominates climate literature, further entrenching disparities in understanding the climate crisis and inciting climate action.
There are hundreds of known languages worldwide. However, major climate literature is often reserved for specific languages. For example, the United Nations (UN) has six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. Furthermore, while the renowned International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is slowly introducing additional languages, such as Swedish and German, the IPCC “does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of these translations into non-UN languages.” Therefore, even for major climate literary sources, truly inclusive access through language remains elusive.
While the official UN languages are common, languages such as Hindi–the native language of more than half a billion people–are overlooked in current climate literature. However, India is the third largest greenhouse gas emitter. Therefore, a significant proportion of the world’s population is excluded from accessing climate literature due to continuing predominance of Westernized influence on climate policy, including climate mitigation (“efforts to reduce or prevent emissions of greenhouse gases”) and climate adaptation (“changes in processes, practises, and structures to moderate potential damage or to the benefit from opportunities associated with climate change”).
The language barrier is one chapter of a multifaceted disparity for the climate vulnerable exacerbated by the climate crisis. There is a lack of climate adaptation literature available for the Global South. Economic inequity presides in developing countries that contribute less to greenhouse gas emissions yet are more exposed to the consequences of climate change, and are still yet to receive the pledged $100 billion annual financial support from higher-income countries to fund a green transition through mitigation and adaptation. Racial inequity adversely impacts the exposure, sensitivity, and ability for non-white populations to adapt to climate change. Gender inequity is also highlighted, with women less likely to be in positions of power to influence positive climate action. Women are also more exposed to climate change’s consequences and are at increased risk of gender-based violence (with violence and conflict increasing alongside the climate crisis).
Groups such as the Climate Cardinals have taken the initiative to advocate language inclusivity, having translated climate-related information into more than 100 different languages thus far. Championing inclusivity is essential in combating societally driven climate inequities. Improving access to climate literature is fundamental in providing universal access to information on the “greatest threat the world has ever faced.”
