Multiple Inequalities and Intersectionality in the Era of Climate Crisis: A Transformative Project for Climate Justice

While the carbon-dependent development of modern civilization has brought unprecedented global prosperity, it has simultaneously engendered an “inequality of risk”, where environmental hazards are asymmetrically transferred to socially vulnerable groups. This study identifies climate change not merely as an environmental disaster, but as a critical driver of intersectional vulnerability that entrenches and exacerbates socio-structural inequalities. Adopting intersectionality theory as its analytical framework, this research empirically examines the multi-layered disparities unique to South Korean society. The analysis reveals that the contradiction of “ecological debt” at the global level, coupled with domestic disparities in housing, energy, and labor, fundamentally deprives vulnerable populations of their life chances. In the specific context of South Korea, the patriarchal nature of elderly poverty and the legal and social exclusion of migrant workers interact with climate risks to explosively amplify systemic vulnerability. In conclusion, this paper proposes a “transformative project” that moves beyond techno-centric post-hoc measures toward a reconstruction of social justice. It suggests a strategic direction for practical climate justice, underpinned by the implementation of precise vulnerability indicators and inclusive governance.