The disproportionate effects of climate change on different groups of people is a topic that has come up in many of our class discussions. People of marginalized communities, especially people of color and people with disabilities, are more likely to face the negative effects of climate change and pollution.
Though the rest of this post is focused primarily on the impacts of climate change on people of color and disabled people, it is important to note that there are many other communities of people who are significantly affected at a concerningly different rate, such as those living in the Global South and people of low socio-economic status. It is also worth noting that both people of color and people with disabilities are more likely to have a lower socio-economic status than the rest of the population.
Climate Change is Racist
Climate change and pollution negatively impacts every person on the planet, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, etc., but that is not to say that all of those impacts are equivalent. People of color, especially black and African-American people, are significantly more likely to face the direct impacts and negative effects of global warming, pollution, and severe weather than anybody else. In 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published findings from a report that Black and African American individuals in the United States are 40% more likely to live in areas that have the highest projections for extreme heat increases. If global warming reaches 4°C, that percentage is expected to 59%. Additionally, a 2017 survey found that African-American people were 75% more likely to live in areas that are near hazardous waste facilities.
As much as I wish I was surprised by the blatantly disproportionate effects of climate change on people of color, history has proven that racial discrimination runs rampant in the United States. It is no surprise that climate change is not an exception to this fact. The statistics provided above already paint a horrific picture, but they are only a few of many concerning numbers. For example, a 2018 report noted that Black Americans 1.5 times as much sooty pollution in comparison to the general population.
Climate Change is Ableist
Another group of people that are disproportionately affected by climate change and pollution are people with disabilities. Disabled people face many accessibility challenges in our society, but these challenges are exacerbated by the effects of global warming. Climate change has already caused an influx in heat-related deaths, even amongst physically healthy people. There are many disabilities in which extreme temperatures, especially heat, trigger a reaction, flare-up, or worsening of symptoms (such as for chronic conditions like POTS). The ever-increasing frequency of heatwaves put disabled populations, not to mention other heat-vulnerable populations, such as elderly people and young children, at risk to be disproportionately affected.
The increased frequency and severity of natural disasters also poses further risk to populations of disabled people. People with disabilities, regardless of whether they are physical, intellectual, or emotional disabilities, often face barriers with finding accessible transportation or emergency shelters when needing to evacuate or experience long-term social isolation.
When I was growing up in Chicago I never saw the stars at night, then we moved to South Haven and I look up and i see starts and shapes. Later on I learned that the pollution in that city literally covered the south side skies my whole life
ReplyDeleteClimate change will not affect everyone the same. It is disgusting that the government doesn't take action to help people who are suffering the most.
ReplyDeleteYou are 100% right. It's sad to see, but it feels like as time passes, the government is doing worse and worse things to people, as long as it doesn't affect them, they won't care.
DeleteI think I just assumed when going through this class that climate change will affect everyone the same in certain areas. I knew people near the equator would experience it worse than us in Michigan, but I didn't think about disabled people struggling with the changing weather or African American's being in areas that will be affected more. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis is something I haven't thought about before, I have heard that climate change affects people of different nationalities different depending on the area you live, but forgot that people with disabilities as well get the short of the stick when disaster strikes.
ReplyDeleteI know for a fact that if any of the investors or owners of fossil fuel companies lived within the vicinity of their factories or corporations, they would understand why they are so evil. To breathe in their smog, watch the environment around their industry die, to not be able to see through the thick layer of aerosols in the atmosphere. This is inhumane, no one deserves to live there, and the animals and people that die to this should never have been exposed to it in the first place. We should demand justice, and ensure that people that haven't gotten a fair chance historically, have more opportunities now that we are aware of it fully.
ReplyDeleteGreat point, as the blog mentioned it is people of lower SES that have to live by these horrible, polluting plants.
DeleteIt's heartbreaking to see how climate change exacerbates existing inequalities, putting marginalized communities, especially people of color and those with disabilities, at even greater risk during these challenging times.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you discuss how climate change has increased effects on individuals with disabilities as well. Out of all the marginalized communities we have discussed throughout the course of this class I feel that we have spent little time talking about disabled individuals and how climate change impacts them.
ReplyDeleteThis was an excellent blog topic, lots to think about. I have not thought about how those with a disability, like a physical disability would struggle to evacuate during an emergency situation.
ReplyDeleteWhile I had learned about the issue of environmental racism from covering the topic of the Flint Water Crisis in previous classes I had no idea how prolific the issue was, 75% more likely to live near hazardous waste facilities is abhorrent.
ReplyDeleteBy highlighting how institutional injustices worsen the effects of climate change on vulnerable groups, your post exposes the intersecting nature of this issue. Raising awareness of discrimination and environmental racism is essential to promoting fairness in climate change initiatives.
ReplyDeleteAnd the racial dimension is all the more clear when you consider the whole world and global populations of people of color...
ReplyDeleteIt is so unfortunate that even populations that understand the issues emissions pose to our environment still cannot completely grasp the danger of the situation because of their social status. Empathy and listening to the lower classes, who are most affected, are pivotal for change.
ReplyDeleteI loved that you personified climate change in this blog. It really reminds us that it is a force we need to fight.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you here. For us English people it is a great way to grab the reader's attention and make the whole idea more prominent.
DeleteThis is a good post. It is scary how true redlining is and how people really struggle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this powerful post, Katie. You explain so well how climate change hits marginalized groups harder. Real solutions need to put equity at the center.
ReplyDeleteThe reality of the disproportionate impacts of climate change are devastating and need to be more widely discussed. Not only is it necessary to reverse the effects of climate change for all people including future generations, but it is also important to make more people's stories and struggles heard so they can receive the proper support that will benefit us all.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
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