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Climate Justice in South Africa: A lesson for Secondary Aged Students

This lesson was initially designed to accompany the Right Here Right Now summit at the University of Oxford, June 2025.

All lessons in the Climate Justice Education educational resources pack are available at: https://climate.web.ox.ac.uk/globalclimatesummit

Teacher notes are provided before the lesson and answers to questions/pedagogical suggestions are in the speaker notes.

The lesson is meant to take 20-25 minutes at minimum but can be expanded with further discussion.

Authors: Dr. Isobel Talks and Dr. Bill Finnegan, with contributions from Professor Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur for Climate Change

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Teacher Notes

5 mins – Slide 1: Register, students brainstorm: "What does 'justice' mean to you?" Write responses on board. Don't just agree - we'll explore how justice connects to climate change in complex ways

3 mins – Slide 2: Introduce climate justice concept and South African context

4 mins – Slide 3: Task on connecting rights to environment

3 mins – Slide 4: Discuss One Ocean Hub's children's rights work

3 mins – Slide 5: Empatheatre case study task

2 mins – Slide 6: Writing reflection

3 mins – Slide 7: Quick recap and next steps

Resources:

Mini whiteboard - or improvise an equivalent

A map of South Africa

Access to UN Convention on Rights of the Child Article 24 (right to health)

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Climate Justice and Health

Today we're exploring climate justice in South Africa - understanding how environmental problems affect different people unequally and what can be done about it.

While you wait, think about this: Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says children have the right to health and a clean environment.

While you wait to start, write down one way climate change might affect young people differently than adults.

E.g. Young people will live through decades more of climate change than older adults

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South Africa's Climate Justice Challenge

Climate change intersects with historical injustice in South Africa. Communities affected by apartheid-era policies often face the greatest climate risks today.

Key Issues:

Coastal communities dependent on fishing face rising seas and changing ocean conditions
Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental health impacts
Traditional knowledge about environmental changes is often ignored in decision-making
Economic development projects (like oil drilling) can conflict with community rights

Task: On your whiteboard, list three rights from any human rights document you know. Next to each, write how climate change might threaten that right

Example – Right to adequate food – droughts affect crop production

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Case Study 1: Children's Rights and Ocean Health

The One Ocean Hub research group made a breakthrough discovery: almost all children's human rights can be negatively affected by ocean degradation.

Their work influenced UN General Comment 26, an international legal document that now officially recognises the connection between children's rights and environmental health.

Key Insights:

Children will inherit the consequences of today's environmental decisions
Young people have the right to participate in environmental decision-making
Ocean health directly affects children's rights to food, health, culture, and development

Discussion: Why might it be powerful to frame climate change as a children's rights issue? What advantages might this approach have?

Photo: Dylan McGarry

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Case Study 2: "Lalela uLwandle" (Listen to the Sea)

Researchers created a play to amplify voices of coastal communities fighting offshore oil drilling. The play became the first artistic work used as legal evidence in South African courts.

What happened:

Communities were excluded from meaningful consultation about oil drilling
Researchers collected stories from fishers, traditional healers, and scientists
They created a play showing how different people relate to the ocean
The play was performed for communities, policymakers, and in court
Result: Court ruled that community consultation was inadequate; drilling was stopped

Task: In pairs, discuss: How might storytelling and art be more effective than traditional protest methods for environmental advocacy?

Photo: Jackie Bruniquel

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Connections and Tensions

Both case studies show that climate justice in South Africa involves:

Intersecting injustices: Environmental problems worsen existing inequalities

Knowledge systems: Scientific and traditional knowledge both matter

Participation rights: Affected communities must be genuinely included in decisions

Legal strategies: Courts can protect environmental and human rights

Creative advocacy: Art and storytelling can change minds and policy

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Writing Task

Choose one statement below and explain your view in 4+ sentences:

"The One Ocean Hub's success in influencing UN General Comment 26 shows that children's voices can change international law on climate issues."

"The Lalela uLwandle play proves that art and storytelling can be more powerful than traditional protests for stopping harmful environmental projects."

"Both case studies show that climate justice in South Africa requires including communities that are usually ignored - children and coastal fishers."

How do we achieve climate justice for all?

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What does climate justice look like in practice?

Today we explored how climate justice in South Africa connects environmental protection with human rights, historical justice, and community participation.

Key Takeaways:

Climate change affects people unequally
Those most affected often have the least political power
Creative and legal strategies can amplify marginalised voices
Children's rights frameworks provide powerful tools for climate advocacy

Exit question - What's one action you think young people in your community could take to advance climate justice?