Global Responsibility Across Power Differences

Sor Juana understood how institutional power creates different moral positions and obligations. Climate crisis reveals stark inequality: wealthy nations caused atmospheric damage through industrialization while poorest nations face greatest impacts. Global responsibility cannot mean equal burden-sharing; it demands differential responsibility aligned with historical emissions and current capacity. Those in Global North nations and benefiting from extraction must make dramatic emissions reductions, provide climate finance without debt conditions, and support reparations for climate damages. This is not charity but accountability. Sor Juana's insistence on justice—not mere compassion—illuminates how climate responsibility means redistribution of resources, technology transfer, and genuine voice for those most harmed in climate policy-making. Global responsibility requires wealthy nations acknowledge their climate debt and transform their economies, not demand poor nations sacrifice development. This framework centers the rights and voices of frontline communities while placing transformation obligations on those with greatest power and responsibility.