What is the Global South?

The Global South is a concept that is mostly misunderstood. It describes not only the southern hemisphere of the planet; it defines the economically disadvantageous and historically exploited countries with weak representation power in decision-making processes. These countries are geographically dispersed across different regions in the world. Such as Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Middle East, and Pacific Islands.

The origin of the concept goes back to 1960s. In this period, the description of the “Third World” was started to be replaced by the term ‘the Global South.’  The term the “Third World” was used to represent countries outside of Western and Eastern (Soviet) blocks during the Cold War period. However, these terms started to take on a hierarchical and exclusionary meaning over time. As a replacement of this term, the concept of the “Global South” emerged to describe countries with similar historical experiences in a more inclusive and politically neutral manner.

In the post-Cold War world order, the North industrialized and got richer while the South played the role of raw material suppliers, cheap labor source, and victim of climate change. Today, the Global South countries make up for approximately 85% of the world population, but they only have  20% of the global wealth.

The difference between the Global North and South is not found only in income, it is also related to opportunities. The Northern countries are able to provide funds for energy conversion, to establish infrastructure against disasters, and to access technologies that would reduce carbon emissions. The Southern countries, on the other hand, are still fighting to provide basic needs while also experiencing the consequences of the climate disaster.

The climate crisis makes the difference between rich and poor countries even bigger. Because impacts depend on the level of preparedness. Many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are among the most vulnerable regions against floods, droughts, storms, and forest fires caused by the climate change. For example, although being responsible of only 4% of global carbon emissions, the continent of Africa  is the region most effected by the economic costs of climate related disasters.

Drought causes millions of people in Ethiopia and Sudan to migrate. Rising sea levels in Bangladesh displace millions of people. Destruction of rain forests in Latin America threatens both biodiversity and habitats of local people. What is experienced in these regions creates not only environmental crises, but also political and humanitarian crises as well.

The Global North, on the other hand, can manage the cost of this crisis through financial tools. For the South, however, climate crisis means a new burden added upon already existing poverty and foreign debt. For this reason, the concept of “climate justice” refers not only to reducing emissions, but also to redistributing this unequal price.

Click here to check out our blog post titled ‘What is Environmental Justice?’

One of the most controversial topics of the climate crisis is “loss and damage” mechanism. In 2022, a historically significant decision was taken at the COP27 summit organized in Egypt to create a Loss and Damage Fund. The purpose was to provide financial support to the countries which are affected the most from climate related disasters. However, this fund has not yet been filled with adequate resources.

The countries argue that this mechanism represents an ethical debt. Because industrialization process which led to the climate crisis basically goes back to the historical emissions of the North. Despite this fact, the South receives the biggest damage. For example, flooding events of 2022 in Pakistan effected 33 million people, and costed over $30 billion of damages to the country’s economy. And funds created to compensate for these damages remained inadequate.

In other words, ‘Loss and Damage’ is not only a matter of money in the fight against climate crisis, but also a matter of justice.

As we all know, the world now reached to the limit of “carbon budget.” According to scientists, the amount of carbon that humanity can release not to exceed the 1.5°C threshold is being rapidly exhausted.

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However, majority of this ‘carbon budget’ has already been used up by industrialized countries. And the objection of the Global South is being raised exactly at this point. The Global South says: “The right of developing countries to grow is being limited on the grounds of ‘emission limits. And this is not fair.”

The demand of the Global South countries is simple: the balance between “the right to develop” and “emission reduction” should be reestablished. This theory says, “If the North has historically released more carbon to the atmosphere, the South’s access to energy, industry and technology should not be inhibited.”

The Global South countries have been referred to as “victims” in international negotiations for a long time. However, this picture started to change in the last decade. The South is not only a damaged party anymore, but it has also started to become an actor, creating solutions with increasing bargaining power.

Countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and India are taking big steps in green energy investments. India, with its goal of providing half of its electricity generation from renewable resources by 2030, is conducting one of the largest solar energy programs in the world.

This transformation is not limited to energy. The Global South countries continue to increase their information, technology and experience exchange with their solidarity network called  South-South cooperation. For example, many countries in Africa learn from each other climate-resistant seeds in agriculture and water management models. Countries in Southeast Asia create common frameworks in carbon trade and green financing.

This dynamism creates a new balance in global climate negotiations. Now the concept of “climate justice” is not left only to the conscience of the North. Real climate justice is only possible by establishing a system in which everyone has the right to equally participate in the transformation.

Equitable distribution is not only about carbon emissions, but also related to access to information, financing, and technology. One of the key strengths of the Global South is that it still has the wisdom of a life in harmony with nature. Agriculture, water management, and ecologic balance practices of centuries are now being redefined by the modern science as “nature-based solutions.”

For example, communities in Kenya prevent coastal erosion while also creating carbon sinks thanks to mangrove restoration. Villages in Nepal use community-based forest management model to protect biodiversity while also supplying for their fuel wood needs in a sustainable manner.

What these examples have in common is how they put the knowledge and labor of local people in the center. Therefore, many experts emphasize that “climate justice” does not only refer to financing, but also information sharing.

Türkiye occupies a special position in the discussions of the Global South. It is neither included in the South, nor has the resources of the North. This dual position creates both vulnerability and opportunity.

Located inside the Mediterranean basin, Türkiye is one of the regions that will be effected by climate change the most. We have already analyzed this subject in our article titled “What are the Impacts of Climate Change on Türkiye?”.

Drought, forest fires, and fluctuations in agricultural production have now become quite visible in our country. However, Türkiye also has a strong industrial infrastructure and renewable energy potential. And this puts the country among a small number of countries that can combine climate action with development.

In recent years, investments in wind and solar energy have increased in Türkiye while projects for water efficiency and soil health in agriculture have also proliferated. Nevertheless, significant steps shall still be taken on the access to international climate funds and technology transfer. Türkiye can act as a bridge in this process, acting shoulder to shoulder with the Global South on the one hand, and following up and complying with the expectations of regulations such as the European Green Deal on the other.

Climate justice is not only about carbon equation. It is about protecting basic rights such as access to water, food, shelter, and education. Climate policies would fall short if these rights were not distributed equally.

The fair world of the future will be built on the foundation of not only “who releases how much carbon,” but also who has access to which information, which technology, which opportunity. Therefore, equitable distribution requires both economic and cultural transformation.

The Global South’s raising voice is the start of this transformation. Because justice will be built not only by funds, but also by sharing stories, experiences, solutions. If the world really wants to share a common future, the North should accept its debt, and the South’s voice should be placed in the center of the global policy. And this understanding is increasingly spreading.

The concept of the Global South represents not only an economic distinction, but a test of conscience for humanity. There is no winner in the climate crisis. However, it is obvious who pays the price. A fair future is possible only through a culture of sharing.