Journal of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination

CLIMATE JUSTICE AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES: SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATION IN VULNERABLE REGIONS

Noman Ahmed

Professor, Department of Architecture & Planning, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

Aisha Khan

Chief Executive Officer, Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC), Islamabad, Pakistan

Keywords: Climate justice, environmental governance, institutional coordination, socio economic inequality, vulnerable regions, sustainable development, climate adaptation

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Abstract

Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable regions characterized by socio-economic fragility, institutional weaknesses, and environmental degradation. Climate justice has emerged as a normative and policy-oriented framework seeking to address inequities in climate vulnerability, adaptation, and mitigation. This study explores the socio-economic dimensions of climate justice and evaluates institutional responses aimed at enhancing environmental coordination in vulnerable regions across the Global South. Drawing upon governance theory, environmental justice frameworks, and sustainable development paradigms, the article examines how economic inequality, gender disparities, infrastructural deficits, and governance capacity shape climate resilience outcomes. The study highlights the role of multi-level governance, regional coordination mechanisms, and inclusive policy design in bridging adaptation gaps. Through comparative analysis of institutional strategies in Africa, South Asia, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the paper underscores the importance of participatory governance, equitable financing mechanisms, and knowledge-sharing platforms. The findings suggest that effective environmental coordination requires integrative institutional reform, cross-sector collaboration, and justice-centered climate policy frameworks that prioritize marginalized communities.

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