Climate inequality

A short documentary that serves as an introduction to climate inequality, looking at why reducing global inequalities is crucial, who drives CO2 emissions, who pays the price and what a fair transition requires.

THINKING MATTERS

A collection of short documentaries

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THINKING MATTERS

A collection of short documentaries

03 Nov 2025

Key Points

A warming planet amplifies existing inequalities.
Climate impacts hit hardest in equatorial and developing regions, despite low historic emissions.
Wealthy countries consume more than their share of the global carbon budget, which makes fair accounting essential.
A just transition must include workers and minorities so today’s inequalities are not rebuilt in the clean economy.
Solutions include technology transfer, new financing models like Global Public Investment and strong international cooperation.

Climate Inequality

In this episode of Thinking Matters by EXPeditions, leading scholars examine the urgency of the need to reduce inequalities and what the specific consequences are in terms of climate change. Impacts fall hardest on countries near the equator and on vulnerable communities that have contributed less to the problem. Globalization changed how we produce and trade, letting wealthy nations use more of their share of the carbon budget. They explore demographic pressure, new barriers to development and the risk that narrow metrics or punitive policies deepen harm. They envision a just transition that works across countries and within them, for more equity and inclusion. Practical pathways include fairer carbon accounting, technology transfer and new financing models like Global Public Investment with a stronger international cooperation that brings all contributors to the table.

Featuring Martin Rees, Gbemi Oluleye, Matthew Agarwala, Frederica Genovese and Simon Reid-Henry.