Climate Adversity

Climate Adversity

Stacy Shang

Despite the innately scientific nature of climate change, in our current social climate, it is not solely an environmental issue. The intersection between climate change and social justice was a topic that I researched as my final paper at the end of my first college semester. Through these explorations, I became aware of the significant disparities that climate change had on people and the displacements it could cause. Against the backdrop of the heightened social justice awareness of 2020, the dynamics between climate change and social justice were a popularly discussed topic. However, as time has gone on, discussions of performative social justice have increased, and more eye-catching headlines clouding out talks of climate change, the attention to this topic has dwindled concurrently. Despite changes in public discourse, the fundamental interconnectedness of these issues underscores a persistent challenge: achieving equity in the face of climate adversity.

Historically, climate change has been viewed through its environmental consequences—rising sea levels, increased global temperatures, and disrupted ecosystems. However, these physical manifestations mask deep societal implications. As human activity increases greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, glaciers are melting and along with the rising seas and changes in precipitation patterns, animals are losing their habitats and migrating elsewhere to try to adapt to the morphing environment. People, then, also receive adverse health effects such as “foodborne and waterborne diseases”, malnutrition, and mental health problems, as shown in the research of Barry S. Levy, a physician and a former president of the American Public Health Association, and Jonathan A. Patz, director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in their article, “Climate Change, Human Rights, and Social Justice”. Those who are more vulnerable to climate change are often living in poverty in low-income countries, despite those countries producing less greenhouse gasses than high-income countries. These groups are disproportionately affected by the environmental threat, thus making the environmental issue a human rights issue. The disproportionate effects of climate phenomena on vulnerable communities highlight an uncomfortable reality: the least responsible for climate change suffer its gravest consequences.

Recent scholarly work offers fresh perspectives on mitigating these challenges. For instance, a "restorative pathway" proposed by Oregon State University researchers emphasizes integrating social, economic, and environmental justice. This innovative approach advocates for incremental yet significant societal shifts away from unsustainable practices. Similarly, the U.S. government's Justice40 Initiative represents a concerted effort to redress environmental injustices by ensuring that federal investments in climate and energy disproportionately benefit underserved communities. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has also emphasized climate justice, advocating for an equitable distribution of climate change responsibilities. The principle of climate justice suggests that those who have benefited from emissions-intensive activities owe a debt to those now bearing the environmental and societal costs.

I noticed from my initial research three years ago that climate change extends beyond environmental degradation to influence global distribution of rights and resources. Climate ethics, as discussed by Stephen M. Gardiner, the Professor of Philosophy and Ben Rabinowitz Endowed Professor of Human Dimensions of the Environment at the University of Washington, Seattle, discusses the “interdisciplinary nature” of climate change that bridges the connections it has to “science, economics, law, and international relations.” The relationship climate change has with these disciplines lie in the control of politics and legislation, as shown by legislation such as the Green New Deal. The debate around climate legislation exemplifies the political dimensions of climate action, reflecting a broader struggle to align national policies with global sustainability goals. 

Additionally, climate change's health impacts still remain relevant, as water insecurity is a major issue with climate change. As increased droughts and compromised agriculture makes water less accessible, it leads to women having to travel farther to find clean water. Along the way, they face higher levels of danger because of potential injury, in addition to facing natural disasters such as hurricanes. Children often face higher levels of malnutrition and higher child mortality rates; the World Health Organization estimated that South-East Asia, including nations such as India and Bangladesh, will have increased malnutrition rates of 17% by the year 2030 (Levy and Patz). Mortality rates caused by coastal floods in a European subregion including Poland, Turkey, and 14 other countries will rise 630% by 2030, and mortality rates from inland floods in an American subregion that includes the United States, Canada, and Cuba will have risen by 800% by 2030 (Levy and Patz). The increased prevalence of diseases, malnutrition, and mental health issues in climate-vulnerable regions underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate policies that prioritize human well-being alongside environmental conservation.

Acknowledging the overlaps between climate change and its effects on people is merely a single step in a larger journey toward sustainability and equity. Natural climate solutions, such as restoring forests, mangroves, swamps, and seabeds, stand out as cost-effective means to significantly reduce carbon emissions while enhancing biodiversity. Despite the promise that these solutions show, also discussed in the short film “Nature Now”, featuring Greta Thunberg and journalist George Monbiot, nature-based climate solutions only receive around 2% of funding spent on climate change mitigation. There’s a disconnect between scientific advocacy and financial prioritization. The versatile implementation of these solutions, from agroforestry to urban green spaces, offers tailored benefits to various communities, addressing specific environmental challenges. However, realizing the full potential of these initiatives necessitates robust action from both corporations and governments. Amidst a cultural shift emphasizing the urgency of climate action, it's imperative that legislative efforts evolve to match the growing consensus on the importance of combating climate change for the future's preservation.

Works Cited

“Climate Change Is a Matter of Justice – Here’s Why.” UNDP Climate Promise, 26 June 2023, 

climatepromise.undp.org/news-and-stories/climate-change-matter-justice-heres-why#:~:t

ext=Why%20is%20climate%20justice%20important,and%20triggering%20displacement

%20and%20conflict. 

Gardiner, Stephen M., et al., editors. Climate Ethics: Essential Readings. Oxford University

Press, 2010.

“Justice40 Initiative.” The White House, The United States Government, 28 Feb. 2024, 

www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/. 

Levy, Barry S., and Jonathan A. Patz. “Climate Change, Human Rights, and Social Justice.” 

Annals of Global Health, vol. 81, no. 3, 2015. National Library of Medicine, 

Biotechnology Information, doi:10.1016/j.aogh.2015.08.008.

Mustill, Tom, director. Nature Now. Conservation International, Gripping Films, 19 Sept. 2019,

www.conservation.org/press-releases/2019/09/19/nature-now-a-short-film-narrated-by

greta-thunberg-and-george-monbiot-is-released-in-advance-of-global-youth-climatestrike#:~:text=Gripping%20Films%20is%20a%20science,run%20by%20director%20Tm%20Mustill.Neal, Abby, and Bridget Williams. “Nature-Based Recommendations in the Climate Crisis Report.” Environmental and Energy Study Institute, EESI, 2020, www.eesi.org/articles/view/nature-based-recommendations-in-the-climate-crisis-report.

“Scientists Outline a Bold Solution to Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Social Injustice.” Life at 

OSU, 9 Jan. 2024, 

today.oregonstate.edu/news/scientists-outline-bold-solution-climate-change-biodiversity-l

oss-social-injustice.