Foreword

The report highlights the growing urgency for climate justice as climate impacts disproportionately affect frontline and underserved communities. Despite billions invested in climate solutions, only a small share reaches those most vulnerable. The guide draws on interviews and workshops with community leaders who expressed concerns over displacement, poor health, and lack of inclusion. Businesses are beginning to recognise their responsibility in supporting equity-centred climate solutions but face barriers such as limited knowledge, unclear engagement processes, and fear of failure. The guide aims to help companies partner with communities and implement practical climate justice actions.

Key points

The report outlines four critical actions for businesses:

• Build trust with frontline communities through humility, transparency, and long-term collaboration.
• Adopt a regenerative mindset focused on systemic change rather than short-term gain.
• Provide sustained financial and capacity-building support, such as unrestricted multi-year grants.
• Consider both spheres of control and influence, embedding justice into strategy, value chains, and advocacy.

The case for change

Climate justice addresses inequities where low-income, Indigenous, and marginalised communities experience the greatest harm yet contribute least to greenhouse gas emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency found that Black and African American people in the US are 40% more likely to live in areas with extreme heat-related deaths, increasing to 59% if global temperatures reach 4°C. The report stresses that climate action without justice perpetuates inequality and that businesses have increasing opportunities to support community-led resilience.

Perspectives from the frontlines

Frontline leaders define climate justice as ensuring equity in participation, leadership, and outcomes. They link justice to addressing environmental racism and economic disinvestment. A just future is envisioned as cooperative, safe, healthy, and democratised, where communities have agency and share in decision-making. Communities emphasised that businesses should take responsibility, share profits, and support local resilience instead of pursuing short-term image gains.

Overview: Guidance for business

Businesses have significant power to accelerate climate justice but must first address past harms and rebuild trust. Challenges include reluctance to acknowledge historical damage, transactional partnerships, and misaligned climate initiatives that fail to meet community needs. The guide urges systemic integration of justice into business models and decision-making.

Equitable partnerships

The “Principles for Partnership with Frontline Communities” provide a framework for collaboration. The seven principles are: centring trust and transparent communication; valuing local wisdom; equitable resource allocation; racial and cultural literacy; conflict acknowledgement and trust regeneration; clear decision-making; and long-term commitment. Partnerships must prioritise humility, power-sharing, and sustained engagement.

Partnering in practice

Businesses are encouraged to prepare internally by mapping their footprint, assessing complicity in harm, and listening to affected communities. Partnerships should be built through trust, active listening, and shared leadership. Recommended actions include flexible funding, accessibility support, and transparent monitoring. Programmes should begin small, maintain accountability through community advisory bodies, and plan for continuity or transfer to community ownership.

Action & influence

Businesses can act across internal operations, products, value chains, and advocacy. Internal engagement requires leadership buy-in, employee education, and governance that embeds justice into corporate structures. Operations should address inequities in decarbonisation and ensure communities benefit directly. Companies should redirect finance away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable, community-based initiatives. Products and services should eliminate harmful materials, promote circularity, and involve communities in design and access.

Value chains

Businesses must ensure fair treatment, pricing transparency, and traceability across supply chains. Partnerships with diverse suppliers, protection of workers’ rights, and inclusive decision-making are essential. Actions include financing suppliers’ transitions to sustainable practices and integrating local perspectives in carbon and biodiversity strategies.

Policy advocacy

Companies can leverage influence to support legislation promoting equitable climate outcomes. This includes participating in coalitions, aligning advocacy with community priorities, and engaging policymakers at all levels. Business involvement in initiatives such as Justice40 can help ensure fair distribution of climate investments.

Conclusion

Every business, regardless of scale, has a role in advancing climate justice. Long-term partnerships built on trust and accountability are necessary to achieve systemic change. Short-term, image-focused actions risk perpetuating harm, while sustained engagement enables meaningful contribution to a just and regenerative economy.