Climate Justice and the Right to Water: Resource Conflicts in Climate-Affected Areas

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of climate justice and the right to water, focusing on resource conflicts in climate-affected areas. As climate change exacerbates water scarcity, particularly in vulnerable regions, the competition for water resources intensifies, leading to social, political, and economic tensions. The concept of climate justice demands that those most affected by climate change—especially marginalized and vulnerable communities—are not disproportionately burdened in accessing essential resources like water. This study investigates how climate change-driven water scarcity has led to conflicts in several Indonesian regions, where agricultural communities, indigenous peoples, and urban populations vie for increasingly limited water supplies. Through a combination of case studies, legal analysis, and interviews with affected communities, the research highlights the human rights violations and inequities arising from resource conflicts, including displacement, gender disparities, and unequal access to water. Findings suggest that while water governance frameworks exist, they often fail to address the root causes of climate-induced water scarcity and the socio-economic inequalities that underlie resource disputes. The paper argues that a climate justice framework must be integrated into water management policies to ensure the equitable distribution of water resources and the protection of human rights. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on climate justice by shedding light on the link between climate change, resource conflicts, and the fundamental right to water, offering policy recommendations for more inclusive and sustainable water governance in the face of a changing climate.