Climate change and inequality

Despite declines in carbon emissions in 2020 linked to decreased travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis –which is driven by the accumulation of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere over time –has continued to grow. We need urgent and immediate action by rich countries and large corporations if we’re going to begin to reverse this trend and protect the climate.

The poorest half of the world’s population—3.5 billion people—is responsible for just 10 percent of carbon emissions, yet they are often the ones who suffer the worst. Wealthy countries and major polluting companies must commit to reduce their emissions in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement to avoid further climate impacts that disproportionately affect the poor and vulnerable who contributed the least to the problem. In the next decade we need to take bold actions to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. The failure to act now will lead to even greater costs later. These costs will be measured not only in dollars and cents but in lives lost to hunger, disasters, and increased conflict

Scientists have been clear: climate change is already affecting every sector and region of our country, of our continent, of our planet. But it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people –those who rely on rain to grow crops, live in fragile housing and who lack savings or insurance –who are hit the hardest, despite having contributed the least to the problem.

Adaptation is critical–particularly for small farmers who feed themselves and nearby communities and who are expected to play a critical role in global food security. Even with additional commitments to cut emissions, the impacts of climate change will continue to be felt by the world's poor for decades to come.

Wealthy countries must step up to do their fair share to enable the poorest and most vulnerable around the world to build resilience and thrive in the face of a changing climate, not just survive. This includes finance which is adequate, predictable, and accessible and commitments to respect and uphold the rights of impacted communities.

When natural disasters strike, they hit marginalized communities first and worst. And as women make up an estimated 70 percent of those living below the poverty line, they are more likely to bear the heaviest burdens. According to the United Nations, 80 percent of people displaced by climate change are women. At the same time, women are often left out of the conversation about adapting to climate change, even though they are sometimes in the best position to provide solutions.

Communities of color are also disproportionately impacted by climate change. A history of exclusionary zoning practices against Black, Brown and Indigenous communities in the United States has denied them access to well-resourced and planned residential communities, which has made them more vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis. Globally, these communities are more likely to be in flood zones, or surrounded by toxic facilities that pollute the air they breathe. Without adequate resources, Black, Brown, and Indigenous people are more likely to be displaced from their homes and face greater challenges in rebuilding their lives after disaster strikes.

Local expertise and women’s leadership is resourced to build resilience and shape solutions. The gendered impact of the climate crisis is reflected in the design, implementation and evaluation of the strategies intended to address it.