Double Whammy - Climate Change and Social Inequity
Imagine a flood. A flood so great that it displaces millions of people and causes thousands to lose their lives. This was the plight of 33 million citizens, helpless in the face of the 2022 Pakistan floods. The catastrophic flooding disrupted countless lives and caused damage exceeding $30 billion. For marginalised rural communities already grappling with poverty, the flood was especially devastating. Having to bear the brunt of the destruction, these individuals had to scramble for limited recovery resources, all while trying to make ends meet amid dire economic circumstances. This is the unfortunate reality of climate resilience: those who need the most aid often receive the least.
At its core, this occurs as underprivileged communities lack the resources to recover from climate events, thereby deepening the cycle of poverty. For example, marginalised groups predominantly live outside the city because the cost of living is lower there. Yet it is precisely such areas that are more susceptible to climate disasters, such as extreme flooding or heatstroke. At the same time, these individuals are more likely to experience health complications from climate change, such as respiratory illnesses and waterborne diseases, due to poorer air quality. Consequently, this creates a vicious cycle of vulnerability, where individuals are unable to adopt climate-resilient practices due to a lack of money and continue to experience the effects of climate change most brutally.
Governments around the world have implemented numerous policies to address the intersection of climate change and social inequity. The international Paris Agreement is one such example. Under the agreement, wealthier nations pledged $100 billion annually to help vulnerable countries fight climate change, enabling their citizens to adopt climate‑resilient practices and prepare for its effects. Another instance would be India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change, which includes programs such as the National Solar Mission, providing affordable renewable energy to rural areas. These two policies are largely effective, helping alleviate the burden that underprivileged communities face when affected by climate change, while setting the standard for the rest of the international community to follow.
Nevertheless, there is still much room for improvement. The Paris Agreement, for example, suffers from a lack of enforcement because it is non-legally binding. Therefore, understanding the intersection of climate change and social inequalities can help to garner greater support for justice-oriented climate policies. Only by engaging the broader public in productive discourse surrounding climate justice can we truly build a more resilient and sustainable future.
