On the Nexus between Climate Change, Poverty and Failure of Justice

Abstract Effective delivery of justice – especially in developing countries – is being severely compromised by several factors, one of which is climate change. The article discusses the narrow but important nexus between climate change, poverty and effective justice delivery, with particular reference to the poor and the vulnerable in Nigeria. The article considers the impact of climate change on access to justice from two angles. The first factor is that people cannot access the courts physically due to climate change-induced events such as flooding. The second is that the courts, and the judges themselves, are impeded physically in the functioning and delivering of justice due to climate change-induced events. The article calls on the government to strengthen its laws and harmonise its policies on climate change and poverty eradication for more effective long-term adaptation especially as it relates to poor and vulnerable people.