The Connection Between Climate Change and Inequality

Written by Paige Cowles and Edited by Zac Carter

In recent years, the international community has become more socially aware of climate change and its consequences on the environment. Particularly, the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement demonstrated an international legal commitment to addressing climate change. Over 196 countries agreed to limit national emissions with the aim of keeping global temperature rises below 2 degrees Celsius.[1]  

The Paris Agreement was largely the result of support and research conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Established by the United Nations, the IPCC aims to provide policymakers with ‘regular scientific assessments on the current state of knowledge about climate change’.[2]  

On the 28th of February 2022, the IPCC released its Sixth Assessment Report, highlighting that humanity has 10 years before the environment undergoes irreversible change.[3] Many are familiar with the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, melting polar icecaps, and ocean acidification and warming. However, what the IPCC’s report highlights that is not usually recognised, is the social and human implications of climate change; both now and in the future.  

Gap in Emissions Between Rich and Poor Nations  

Data released by the World Bank’s Global Carbon Project in 2021 found that wealthy nations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and much of western Europe, are responsible for 50 percent of all green-house emissions released over the past 170 years.[4] Despite this, these countries only account for 12 percent of the global population.  

Contrastingly, those most impacted by climate change live in some of the poorest economies in the world. In its report, the IPCC noted that the climate crisis will hit lower-income countries hardest, by ‘aggravating poverty and disease for people who are most at risk and least able to adapt’.[5] Upwards of seventy-five percent of the world’s impoverished people live in rural areas and are dependent on natural resources such as forests, lakes and oceans to support their livelihood. This makes these communities more economically vulnerable to the impact of climate change and less able to adapt.[6]  This issue is only likely to get worse, as confirmed by the World Bank’s prediction that an additional 100 million people may be forced into poverty due to climate change by 2050.  

Aggravation of inequality by Climate Change 

The IPCC report noted that climate change will continue to affect poorer nations disproportionality, as they have ‘an existing vulnerability to climate variability and already stressed coping capacities.’[7] As a result, climate change and inequality are locked in a vicious cycle, whereby climate change serves to aggravate inequality. Thus, the IPCC report makes it clear that rich countries must take action to support vulnerable communities; both on a national, and international scale.[8] 

Impact of Gender and Age 

Gender and age are also key influencing factors in determining an individual’s susceptibility to climate change. Conducted by economist and researcher John Winkel, one particular case study looked at the impact of prolonged drought on women in Gituamba, Kenya.[9] Winkel used household surveys and village focus groups across nine countries in Africa, finding that as women were traditionally responsible for carrying water long distances, they were disproportionately affected in instances of drought compared to men.[10] 

Furthermore, in a report issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, it was identified that children living in areas affected by environmental disasters and climate change have increased vulnerability to child labour, caused by decreased access to resources, healthcare and education.[11] Consequently, such children experience a significantly lower quality of life, as their rights to education and development are infringed upon by the impacts of climate change.  

Summary 

Society must move away from the notion that climate change is a purely a scientific problem requiring scientific solutions. Changes to our environment are inextricably linked to society, with women, children and those living in poorer nations, being disproportionately affected. The sixth IPCC report demonstrates that a commitment by richer nations to reduce emissions will not be a ‘catch-all’ solution. The international community must collaborate to lift nations and communities out of poverty, by directing funding and aid services to increase the resilience of poorer nations. This will allow more vulnerable communities to respond to environmental disasters and rebuild more efficiently, protecting human lives in the process.  

[1] United Nations, The Paris Climate Agreement (2015), <https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris- agreement/the-paris-agreement/>.

[2] IPCC (2022), Sixth Assessment Report, <https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/>.

[3] Ibid.

[4] New York Times (2021), Climate COP Emissions, <https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/12/climate/cop26-emissions-compensation.html>.

[5] IPCC (2022), Sixth Assessment Report, <https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/>.

[6] World Vision Canada (2020), How Climate Change Impacts Poverty, <https://www.worldvision.ca/stories/climate-change/how-climate-change-impacts-poverty>. 

[7] IPCC (2022), Sixth Assessment Report, <https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/>

[8] Ibid.

[9] S Nazrul Islam and John Winkel (2017), ‘Climate Change and Social Inequality’, <https://www.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2017/wp152_2017.pdf>.

[10] Ibid.

[11] OHCHR, Impacts of Climate Change on the Rights of the Child, <https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/ClimateChange/RightsChild/ChilrenOnePager.pdf>.