Climate Change as a Global Externality

Those Who Contribute Least Suffer Most

Authors

  • Tendekai Sean Kativhu Thompson Rivers University
  • Solomon Zawe Thompson Rivers University
  • Sean Kite Thompson Rivers University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/bcelnfe778

Keywords:

climate justice, global externalities, historical emissions, climate inequality, loss and damage, climate finance, common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), Rawlsian justice, global climate governance

Author Biographies

Tendekai Sean Kativhu, Thompson Rivers University

Tendekai Sean Kativhu is a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student at Thompson Rivers University’s Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics in Kamloops, British Columbia. Beginning his studies in Fall 2021, he is pursuing a major in Economics with a minor in Human Resource Management and expects to graduate in Summer 2026. His academic interests include economic analysis, managerial economics, organizational behavior, and human resource strategy.

Sean also oversees BGTees, a family-linked poultry operation in Zimbabwe that manages chicken batches of up to 35,000 birds, gaining hands-on experience in operations, supply chain logistics, and agribusiness management. In Kamloops, he contributes to the community through his work with The Mustard Seed, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty. Guided by his mantra “Destiny is All,” Sean combines academic ambition with entrepreneurship and community service.

Solomon Zawe, Thompson Rivers University

Solomon Zawe is a student of Economics and Political Studies in Canada. His academic interests focus on development economics, global inequality, and the political and economic forces shaping agricultural industries and vulnerable communities. His work often explores how climate change and economic policy affect sectors such as cattle production and rural livelihoods. Beyond his studies, Solomon is actively engaged in community initiatives and youth mentorship. He is the founder of Zawe’s Root and Rise Legacy Foundation, an initiative dedicated to addressing food insecurity and supporting vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe through food assistance and outreach programs.

Sean Kite, Thompson Rivers University

Sean Kite

References

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Callahan, C. W., & Mankin, J. S. (2022). National attribution of historical climate damages. Climatic Change, 172(3-4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-022-03387-y

Klaser, K., Sacconi, L., & Faillo, M. (2021). John Rawls and compliance to climate change agreements: Insights from a laboratory experiment. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-021-09533-8

Gewirtzman, J., Natson, S., Richards, J.-A., Hoffmeister, V., Durand, A., Weikmans, R., Huq, S., & Roberts, J. T. (2018). Financing loss and damage: Reviewing options under the Warsaw International Mechanism. Climate Policy, 18(8), 1076–1086. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2018.1450724

Massenberg, J. R. (2021). Global climate change: Who ought to pay the bill? Sustainability, 13(23), 13393. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313393

Nand, M. M., & Bardsley, D. K. (2020). Climate change loss and damage policy implications for Pacific Island countries. Local Environment, 25(9), 725–740. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2020.1825357

Page, E. A., & Heyward, C. (2017). Compensating for climate change loss and damage. Political Studies, 65(2), 356–372. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032321716647401

Rawls, J. (1971). A theory of justice. Harvard University Press. https://www.hup.harvard.edu/file/feeds/PDF/9780674000780_sample.pdf

Savvidou, G., Atteridge, A., Omari-Motsumi, K., & Trisos, C. H. (2021). Quantifying international public finance for climate change adaptation in Africa. Climate Policy, 21(8), 1020–1036. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2021.1978053

Stern, N. (2008). The economics of climate change. American Economic Review, 98(2), 1–37. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.98.2.1

Timilsina, G. R. (2022). Carbon taxes. Journal of Economic Literature, 60(4), 1456–1502. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.20211560

Cover image with title: Perspectives on the economics of Climate Change. Special Issue, March 2026, Online ISSN: 2819-7046. Background image taken by Peter Tsigaris of the University of Auckland campus.

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Published

2026-03-17

How to Cite

Kativhu, T. S., Zawe, S., & Kite, S. (2026). Climate Change as a Global Externality: Those Who Contribute Least Suffer Most. Future Earth: A Student Journal on Sustainability and Environment. https://doi.org/10.29173/bcelnfe778

Issue

2026: Special Issue: Perspectives on the Economics of Climate Change

Section

Commentaries and Opinions

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