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The Department of Sociology at CHRIST (Deemed to be University) organized a thought-provoking Discussion Forum titled "Justice in a Warming World: Kerala’s Climate Conversations" on the occasion of World Environment Day 2025. The event brought together the PG students, PhD scholars, and faculty to engage critically with the intersections of climate change, environmental justice, and policy.  The session began with a warm welcome address by Rohitkrishna A, student council representative from 3MSOC, setting the tone for the discussions to follow. This was followed by a brief introduction of the speaker by Anjali, PhD Scholar in the department. The forum was facilitated by Dr. Maya M, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, who opened the dialogue by sharing insights from her extensive fieldwork in Kerala, particularly with NGOs and tribal communities involved in eco-restoration initiatives. Drawing attention to the vulnerability of riverine ecosystems and referencing the Global Risk Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum, she highlighted the growing ecological risks facing regions like Kerala. Dr. Maya presented a five-point framework to explain how human societies contribute to their own ecological and social degradation, three of which directly relate to environmental issues: environmental damage, climate change, and the structural inability of societies to respond effectively to environmental challenges. Using Kerala as a focal point, she discussed the state's geographical sensitivities, citing the Wayanad landslides as a warning about the region’s carrying capacity. The discussion also examined bureaucratic inefficiencies, policy gaps, and the tension between political interests and ecological priorities. She offered a critical analysis of the 2018 Kerala floods, characterizing it as a man-made disaster, and emphasized the urgent need for Integrated Water Resource Management. Further, the dialogue explored how policy framing shapes ecological crisis management and questioned the role of various stakeholders, including the state, local bodies, NGOs, and communities, in fostering environmental justice. A key takeaway was the need to address climate change not just as an environmental issue but as a matter of social and ecological sustainability. A short, impactful video presentation illustrated human contributions to ecological degradation, setting the stage for a reflective closing by Dr. Maya, who stressed the collective responsibility to prevent and manage ecological crises.   The session concluded with an engaging Q\&A segment, where participants discussed tangible action models such as sustainable community development, and the role of local governance structures, including panchayats, civil society, and government agencies, in building resilience. The event ended with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Rohitkrishna A, marking the conclusion of an insightful and timely conversation on justice and climate change. |
