Effects of Climate Change on Marginalized Communities

"As delegates converge on Paris in November for the UN Climate Change Conference, the urgency of the need to address the human rights impacts of climate change is clear: the world’s marginalized communities—populations that are already vulnerable to human rights abuses—face the biggest challenges in adapting to climate change. The consequences of climate change for health, housing, livelihood and security will disproportionately impact individuals and communities living in already-fragile ecosystems or with tenuous land title, and especially indigenous communities, women, elderly individuals, those with disabilities, and the poor." - United Nations report on climate change, multiple contributors.

There are four main reasons climate change disproportionately effects poor and vulnerable individuals.

1. Inequality creates a larger likely hood of exposure for disadvantaged groups to climate disasters and climate hazards. Lower income individuals normally live in the most vulnerable locations in a nation, and have less developed infrastructure. As the majority of low-income individuals are reliant on agriculture, it is highly likely they may live in more isolated and remote locations, that are heavily surrounded by nature.
2. Given the level of of exposure, disadvantaged groups there is an increased level of susceptibility to damages caused by climate hazards. It's simple, the more vulnerable you are to experiencing a climate disaster, the more vulnerable you are of being negatively affected by that climate disaster.
3. Inequality decreases individuals and groups ability to cope and recover from the aforementioned damages. This is largely because they have less resources to begin with. Depending on the nation access to medical care, shelter, food and water may be limited and not accessible without a disposable income or other luxuries (ie. modes of transportation, citizenship.) Without a disposable income their ability to cope with the physical impacts to infrastructure, and to individuals bodies as well as the phycological trauma may not be properly healed. The loss of income coming from lost work, inability to access work, or other circumstances can also put an intense burden on a individual who experienced a climate disaster.
4. Many living in poverty have greater reliance on natural resources and agriculture, so when disaster ensues they loose their livelihood/sense of safety and are put further in risk of causes 1-3.

The map demonstrates some of the regions that will be most severely affected by climate change in the coming years, as well as what this means for lower income individuals in this area.

Lagos, Nigeria has one of the fastest expanding populations currently in the world. The population is expected to double in the next 15 years, which will put huge effects on the infrastructure and agriculture. As the economy has grown in Lagos, so has the gap between rich and poor. Many are expecting a huge drought in the upcoming years, which will drastically impact the agriculture in the countryside, and the fishing industry. Many of the lower-income individuals are reliant on these industries for their livelihood. Losing these industries, would mean extreme poverty and the results would be dire. Currently, millions of people living in the northern region are on the brink of famine, struggling to have one meal a day. The drought in addition to the ongoing conflict has devastated their living conditions. In this case, climate change causes droughts to be more frequent and severe which has negatively impacted the lives of the Nigerian people. 

Haiti- There is a huge link between climate change and hurricane frequency and intensity. In the next few years is predicted that Haiti will be hit by many, strong hurricanes. Small islands in general are much more susceptible to the devastation of climate change. Overlapping factors such as high population densities, fragile ecosystems, overstressed water resources, and limited institutional capacity mean that small island states face serious challenges to their development in a changing climate. General environmental degradation, including water pollution and, most visibly, deforestation, weaken the natural systems that need to be strong and resilient in order to survive and flourish in a changing climate: deforested land, for example, loses the protection of trees that naturally serve to keep top soil in place and healthy. As well more than 60% of the countries is on hilly terrain, exponentially increasing their vulnerability to mudslides and flooding. In the last years there has been political turmoil in Haiti which will limit the countries ability to react to and aide their citizens in the event of another climate disaster.

"While the impacts of climate change are undoubtedly negative for much of the world, a society’s capacity to adapt will play a critical role in determining what kind of impact those changes will ultimately have. " -Madeline Rubinstein

Yemen: Yemen was recently devastated by a civil war in 2015. The results of this conflict were devastating, with hundreds of thousands of people being killed, and famine, poor sanitation, and lack of clean water effecting the country. In addition to this the political unrest has caused weakened government and institutions. Both wars and climate change can make famine and subsequently death more common. Some of the political parties use food as a weapon, and will limit food supplies or cut them off all together to have their wishes met. In addition to food shortages, due to rising temperatures malaria is becoming more and more common. The medical system is in shambles due to the civil war, and malaria is proving to be incrediblye deadly. Yemen is also experiencing a different kind of climate change effect: destruction of their fragile economy due to less outside exports. Oil is Yemen's greatest export, and as other countries try to limit their oil consumption, the economy is declining. This is a bittersweet situation, cause although climate change is a major issue for those living in Yemen- poverty is also extremely prevalent and needs to be addressed.

“Parties to the conflict may use food as a weapon, cutting off food supplies, destroying systems of food production and distribution, and stealing food aid. Agricultural production falls, which both limits the availability of food and cuts off many rural houses from their livelihoods. And with higher levels of poverty, many families cannot afford the food they need, especially at inflated prices.” - United Nations Report

Manila: Manila is incredibly vulnerable to flooding. In 2009 a flood submerged 80% of the entire city. This is in large part due to poor infrastructure that did not create proper drainage or take adequate sanitary measures. Manila is located along the coast and is heavily populated, this makes it hard to evacuate and therefore hard to repair after a climate disaster. The question for Manila is not if there will be another catastrophic flood but when, and with a population that is still struggling to recover from 2009 (and other smaller floods) the results could be devastating. Luckily in 2012 the Manila government created a Flood Management Masterplan for Metro Manila, that focuses on modernizing infrastructure to manage future floods. The Philippines have created a Climate Change Action Plan that hopes to focus on “food security, water sufficiency, ecosystem and environmental stability, human security, climate smart industries and services, sustainable energy, knowledge and capacity development.” This program looks promising, but it is no surprise that the richest of the nations highlighted is the only nation with a true climate action plan in place, and will have the lowest long-term impacts.

These are only a few of the nations that are expected to experience climate change disasters in the coming years. This number will not go down, more nations will be added to the list- if global action is not prioritized. However, in this action we think innovativly about how we aide individuals who have already been gravely effected by climate disasters.

There is also immense inequality regarding responsibility for climate change, and the actual effects of climate change. This is seen on both a national and global level. Larger, richer countries generally contribute more to global warming, but in most cases are seeing the least sever effects. Debates are present across many countries who are grappling with responsibilities of causing climate change (large corporations, excessive consumerism in the middle and upper class), and with those who are providing the mitigation and conservation efforts. This is referred to as a 'climate burden' and explores if individuals/corporations who are heavily contributing to climate change, are fairly taking steps in prevention/protection efforts. In a perfect world the 'climate burden' would be fairly distributed amongst the largest polluters, but in many cases the mega-rich and even down to the middle-class individuals do not feel any of the subsequent effects of climate change- it is the poor and vulnerable who are taking the brunt of the burden.

• The Canadian Arctic is currently experiencing the worst impacts of climate change in all of Canada. The Nunavut Climate Change Center has identified that culture, traditional activities, food security, health and disease, heritage places, infrastructure, transportation, resource development, tourism, arts, and energy will be impacted in some way in the coming years. There are many variables that influence why the Arctic is being touched by climate change, and how this is impacting the lives and culture of those who live up north. For one, Indigenous peoples in the Arctic region depend on hunting for polar bears, walrus, seals and caribou, herding reindeer, fishing and gathering not only for food to support the local economy, but also as the basis for their cultural and social identity. Some of the concerns facing indigenous peoples in the region include the change in species and availability of traditional food sources, perceived reduction in weather predictions and the safety of traveling in changing ice and weather conditions, posing serious challenges to human health and food security.

There are also some measurable changes that will or already have begun in the Arctic in the coming years.

How Will Climate Change Impact the Arctic?

"For example, decreasing ice could allow increased shipping through Arctic waterways, including the Northwest Passage. While this may mean economic benefits for Nunavut, it can also raise the risk of oil and chemical spills. Increased land-use activities and natural resource development, together with population growth and an expanding economy, mean we must plan to ensure environmental sustainability in the future." -Nunavut Climate Change Center

The majority of The Right to be Cold details how the Arctic has changed over the years of Watt-Cloutier's life. She speaks of the terrain changing, the animals changing, the seasonal lengths changing, and the temperature changing. All of these things are harsh, especially on a community that is reliant/ co-dependent with the natural world. One of the most heartbreaking of the results of climate change, were the human fatalities. Watt-Cloutier speaks of losing three community members into the ice. The ice is changing so rapidly that the people who are used to hunting on it, are not able to adapt or identify the new conditions- causing many casualties from individuals going through. She also talks about how in someways climate change feels like a continuation of colonialism, and likens the loss of land to loss of culture and self worth. Her story is a reminder that the devastating effects of climate change are multidimensional.

“Indeed, the idea of “the right to be cold” is less relatable than “the right to water” for many people.This isn’t meant to denigrate the people on the human rights commission and in the warmer countries, but rather to point out that the global connections we need to make in order to consider the world and its people as a whole are sometimes lacking. Because as hard as it is for many people to understand, for us Inuit, ice matters. Ice is life." - Shelia Watt-Cloutier

The situation in the Arctic proves that climate disaster is not a 'future Canada problem'. Extreme effects are already being felt, and extreme action must be taken to protect our seas, lands, animals, people and cultures.

Even though socially and economically marginalized people are the first to be affected by climate change, their voices are some of the first to be ignored. As a society we should be centering the voices of those who are tangibly experiencing the disasters of climate change, and this should be a call to action to all of us who are not yet affected. Shelia Watt-Cloutier commanded attention to her voice, which would generally have been socially marginalized. By doing this she put an exceptional amount of humanity into the climate change discussion. She added a new and important perspective, as well as offering exceptional guidance for how we can globally combat climate change. The success of Watt-Cloutier's book is proof that voices like her's must be raised and listened too. Right now we must listen to the young people, we must listen to the Indigenous stewards of the land, and we must listen to the people who are truly living in the wake of climate change. Without their knowledge, their experience, and their guidance we will not be able to beat our worlds greatest challenge.

Marginalized Leader Spotlight: In the last years, young inspiring climate change leaders have really entered the mainstream media. These leaders are so important, but they did not pioneer youth activism. Enter Autumn Peltier, and incredible youth activist from Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario. She has been a driving force for protection of water in Indigenous Communities. She has been invited to many conferences, and even addressed the UN with her concerns. It is hard to put into words how powerful Autumn is, so I have included below a video of her United Nations Speech on the importance of water in her community. Autumn's identity is one that has long been overlooked, she is young, she is a woman, and she is indigenous- our damaged systems and society try to say that these things make her less valuable. But she has shown through bravery and passion, how important her voice is to changing her future. Autumn is proof that we must listen to the young people, and the stewards of the land if we want any chance in saving our beautiful planet. Autumn is just one of hundreds of young people, ,many of whom are indigenous, who have been fighting for climate justice for years with little outside recognition. In the past few years Autumn thankfully has been celebrated for her heroic efforts, and hopefully this will set a trend for more diverse voices in the climate change discussion.

"The common rhetoric surrounding climate change implies that the effects of climate change exclusively impacts developing nations, when in reality developed nations are far from exempt. It is often the marginalized communities in developed nations who also suffer from its uneven impacts." 

One of the best examples of this is the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina had immense effects on infrastructure, employment, livelihood and revealed the ugly truth of how America treats their lower-income populations. If we look at the three reasons why climate change disproportionately effects low-income individuals, we can see how those come into play with Hurricane Katrina.

The first section, higher likelihood for disadvantaged people to be susceptible to climate disaster. The individuals who took the brunt of the hurricane were people living on the low-lands which is considered less-desirable location, largely due to the fact that flooding/hurricanes affect these areas first.

The second section, higher likelihood to experience the affectes of a climate disaster. The individuals who were in the fields impacted by the hurricane all experienced destruction to some degree. Whether it was complete loss of belonging/property, loss of livelihood, or in extreme cases loss of life or serious casualties.

The third section, disdavantaged individuals have less ability to cope with the aftermath of a climate disaster. Without resources such as a disposable income or insurance many of the individuals were left in extreme disarray and where not able to properly repair/ return to their career for an extended period of time. Inequality puts you in harms way, but it also generally means that the recovery efforts from outside forces or even governmental organizations are not as prominent. A striking example of disadvantaged groups getting less public resources needed for coping with and recover from climate damage is provided by the Hurricane Katrina. Though areas inhabited by low income and black population suffered worse damage, the public recovery efforts in these areas proceeded at much slower rates than in areas inhabited by wealthier and while population.

"  Marginalized populations are those who have the smallest carbon footprint, but due to their socioeconomic status, geographic location, gender, and age, they are the ones who experience the worst effects of climate change." - Abbie Trayler-Smith

Climate Change is a universal issue, there is no denying that if humankind is to overcome it , all individuals must buy in. It is a global issue, that requires a global solution- but that does not mean that climate change does not discriminate in its own ways. The Right to be Cold urges us to look beyond what we know about climate change, to acknowledge that this is not a future problem, people are already being affected in heartbreaking ways. Inequality is prevalent in every pore of the damages of climate change, and in global action we must also work to negate the poverty that has been created and continued by our changing planet. We are all connected. We will all feel climate change at some point, if we do not act. Now. Infrastructures are dying. Livelihoods are dying. Cultures are dying. Humans are dying. People are dying. The time to wait has long past. We have no time to wait.

Bresege, Adina. “‘It's time for action’: Indigenous water activist Autumn Peltier speaks at UN forum.” National Post, November 26, 2019,  https://nationalpost.com/news/national/indigenous-water-activist-to-speak-at-un-as-part-of-youth-led-climate-movement  

Carrington, Damian. “Map shows stark divide between who is caused climate change and who’s being hit.” The Guardian, October 26, 2019.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2011/oct/26/climate-change-developing-country-impacts-risk?CMP=twt_gu#   

Colley, Sherri. “Black and Indigenous voices often missing from climate change discussion.” CBC, November 12, 2019,  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/climate-change-indigenous-black-nova-scotia-poverty-race-1.5350495  

Klein, Naomi. “The Right to be Cold: A Revelatory Memoir that Looks at what Climate Change Means for the North.” The Globe and Mail, March 22, 2018,  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/the-right-to-be-cold-a-courageous-and-revelatory-memoir/article23449642/  

Krause, Elanor. “Hurricanes Hit the Poor the Hardest.” Brookings Social Mobility Memos, September 18, 2017,   https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2017/09/18/hurricanes-hit-the-poor-the-hardest/  

Law, Tara. “The Climate Crisis is Global.” Time Magazine, September 30, 2019.  https://time.com/5687470/cities-countries-most-affected-by-climate-change/  

Narzal Islam, S. and Winkel, John. “Climate Change and Social Inequality.” United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, October 2017,  https://www.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2017/wp152_2017.pdf  

Nunavut Climate Change Center Writer. "Climate Change Impacts." https://www.climatechangenunavut.ca/en/understanding-climate-change/climate-change-impact

Rall, Katrina and Amon, Joseph. “COP21: The Impact of Climate Change on the World’s Marginalized Communities.” Health and Human Rights Journal, October 27, 2015,  https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/10/27/cop21-impact-climate-change-worlds-marginalized-populations  

Rubenstein, Madeline. “Climate Change in Haiti.” State of the Planet, Earth Institute Columbia University, February 1, 2012.  https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/02/01/climate-change-in-haiti/   

Trayler-Smith, Abbie. “ Climate Change on the Frontlines: Why Marginalized Voices Matter in Climate Change Negotiations.” Global Witness, August 9, 2017,  https://www.globalwitness.org/sv/blog/climate-change-front-line-why-marginalized-voices-matter-climate-change-negotiations/