A multiscalar framework for assessing climate politics from a justice perspective: the case of Denmark

There is a growing recognition of the justice imperative of climate action. Yet, frameworks for analyzing climate justice within and across political scales remain limited. This article proposes a multiscalar analytical framework for assessing climate politics based on four key approaches to climate justice: (1) historical responsibility, (2) inequality and vulnerability, (3) just transition, and (4) epistemic and procedural justice. The framework provides a matrix of empirical questions addressing how justice concerns are invoked, translated, and contested in practices and claims across interconnected political scales: from international arenas to national policymaking and civil society mobilizations. Applying the framework to Denmark, we identify gaps between narratives of moral leadership and the limitations of eco-modernist and growth-oriented logics at both national and international levels. We further highlight the role of civil society in advancing justice claims and challenging official framings. The article concludes by discussing the cross-scalar implications of the framework.