The Challenges Bedeviling the Fight for Climate Justice in Cameroon: A Critique

Abstract

Climate justice in Cameroon addresses the urgent need to confront the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities, particularly indigenous peoples and local populations dependent on natural resources. It recognizes the interconnectedness of environmental protection, social equity, and sustainable development. In Cameroon, climate justice involves ensuring access to and control over natural resources while combating environmental injustices such as deforestation, pollution, and the adverse effects of climate change on livelihoods. This study explores the multifaceted challenges hindering the effective pursuit of climate justice in Cameroon. The background highlights climate change as a critical threat to Cameroon’s population, economy, and environment, exacerbated by institutional weaknesses and environmental degradation such as deforestation. The research problem centers on the inadequacy of legal frameworks, limited public participation, and poor implementation of climate policies that obstruct the fight for climate justice. The main objective is to identify key obstacles and propose actionable solutions to enhance climate justice efforts in Cameroon. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the study analyzes policy documents, institutional reports, and stakeholder consultations. Major findings reveal institutional capacity constraints, lack of coordination, corruption, and the dominance of fossil fuel subsidies as critical barriers. The study concludes that Cameroon’s climate justice agenda remains limited by systemic and governance issues despite existing strategies. It recommends strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing institutional capacities, promoting inclusive public engagement, phasing out fuel subsidies, and encouraging private sector participation to achieve equitable climate outcomes.