ABSTRACT

Indigenous peoples, who depend on their environment for livelihoods and are often subject to poverty and socio-economic marginalization, are some of the most vulnerable to climate change. While the rights of Indigenous peoples are recognized internationally, these are not translated into adaptation responses. Using insights from theories of environmental justice in the case of Uganda’s Batwa community, we assess how justice-related factors impact their adaptive capacities and whether these are incorporated in the design and implementation of adaptation responses. Our findings reveal a multi-dimensional range of systemic injustices experienced by Batwa, resulting from their continued social-economic, cultural and political marginalization. Additionally, a variety of projects are happening locally in relation to ‘adaptation’ but not labelled as such, suggesting how Batwa's vulnerability is rooted in wider aspects of livelihoods and development. Most projects tend to focus on distribution of material benefits, while less attention is paid to the more intricate issues of compensation, political discrimination and uneven participation. This depoliticized and compartmentalized approach suggests a slow and incomplete way of operationalizing justice. Hence, we call for sincere efforts to address recognition, rights, and disproportionate levels of disadvantage for Indigenous communities, including their constitutional recognition, financial redress and participation in decision-making.

摘要

依赖环境谋生并经常遭受贫困和社会经济边缘化的土著人民是最容易受到气候变化影响的群体。虽然土著人民的权利在国际上得到承认，但这些权利并未转化为适应反应。在乌干达的Batwa社区中，利用环境正义理论的见解，我们评估了与正义相关的因素如何影响其适应能力，以及这些因素是否纳入适应应对措施的设计和实施中。我们的研究结果揭示了巴特瓦人经历的多维系统性不公正，这是由于他们持续的社会经济、文化和政治边缘化造成的。此外，当地正在开展与“适应”相关的各种项目，但并未贴上这样的标签，表明巴特瓦的脆弱性如何植根于生计和发展的更广泛方面。大多数项目倾向于关注物质利益的分配，而较少关注补偿、政治歧视和参与不均等更复杂的问题。这种非政治化和条块化的方法表明了一种缓慢且不完整的司法运作方式。因此，我们呼吁真诚地努力解决土著社区的承认、权利和不成比例的劣势，包括他们的宪法承认、经济补偿和参与决策。而对补偿、政治歧视和参与不均等更复杂问题的关注较少。这种非政治化和条块化的方法表明了一种缓慢且不完整的司法运作方式。因此，我们呼吁真诚地努力解决土著社区的承认、权利和不成比例的劣势，包括他们的宪法承认、经济补偿和参与决策。而对补偿、政治歧视和参与不均等更复杂问题的关注较少。这种非政治化和条块化的方法表明了一种缓慢且不完整的司法运作方式。因此，我们呼吁真诚地努力解决土著社区的承认、权利和不成比例的劣势，包括他们的宪法承认、经济补偿和参与决策。