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Defining chronic violence: Why is climate change called an invisible violence?
As the impact of climate change on global ecosystems becomes increasingly apparent, scholars and activists have begun using the term “chronic violence” to describe this subtle form of violence. Chronic violence, a concept first proposed by writer Robert Nixon in his book Chronic Violence and the Poor's Environmental Movement, refers to violence that occurs gradually and is difficult to detect. This violence is hidden in the corners of time and space, has far-reaching effects, but is often not regarded as violence. This definition means that the impact of climate change is not limited to direct natural disasters, but begins to enter the discussion of social structure and power relations.
Chronic violence is a delayed destruction that cannot be assessed using traditional concepts of violence because it is broken in time.
The various problems caused by climate change, such as the deterioration of living environment, scarcity of resources and rising cost of living, are often concrete manifestations of violence, but they are not easily perceived by the public. This means that the communities most affected, especially the poor and marginalized, are often unable to effectively voice their experiences or access appropriate legal and social support.
According to the U.S. EPA, environmental justice is "fair treatment and meaningful participation of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." This point highlights the sense of oppression that specific groups experience when environmental burdens are unevenly distributed.
The environmental degradation and resource plundering faced by many communities have become increasingly severe as globalization has intensified, making the environmental justice movement no longer limited to domestic discussions but has evolved into a global issue.
This movement originated in the United States in the 1980s, was deeply influenced by the civil rights movement, and gradually resisted environmental racial discrimination. In the decades that followed, it also became integrated into discussions about gender, international environmental inequalities, and various inequalities within marginalized groups. Significantly, environmental justice concerns have begun to shift from rich countries to the global South as environmental burdens have gradually shifted, particularly through resource extraction or the global waste trade.
Such changes have given the environmental justice movement a new global perspective. On this platform, many local movements converge with global networks, giving people a wider opportunity to voice their plight and promote social change.
The ultimate goal of environmental justice is to empower marginalized communities to make environmental decisions that affect their lives.
The impact of climate change does not exist in isolation, but is closely linked to social structures and economic systems. Particularly for communities living in poverty, racial or social marginalization, the impacts of climate change appear to exacerbate their vulnerability and further push these communities to the brink of social conflict. For example, in the global South, many communities suffer frequent environmental plunder due to conflicts over ecological distribution, and the voices of these communities are often ignored in policy making and discussions on environmental protection. Does this represent a new form of environmental violence?
In response to this “chronic violence”, the environmental justice movement continues to call on society to pay attention to this invisible threat and requires all stakeholders to actively participate in relevant decision-making. When it comes to environmental issues, what needs to be emphasized now is not only the protection of the physical environment, but also those social justice and human rights issues that are often overlooked.
Environmental justice advocates say the challenge of climate change requires greater attention to systemic inequalities and how they make certain groups more vulnerable to environmental crises. Whether the voices of these groups can be properly incorporated into policy and social discussions may be the key to whether the environmental justice movement can achieve real change in the future.
In this regard, how can the invisible violence of climate change become an important issue in social movements? Will it prompt us to rethink the relationship between economic development, social justice and environmental protection?
