Originally published on the CGS blog on November 3, 2015.
Last week, the Mexican west coast was hit by “the biggest storm ever recorded in the western hemisphere,” Hurricane Patricia. While Mexico’s response to the disaster has been praised and resulted in less damage than expected, the takeaway for many scientists has been that “in a warmer world…weather extremes will be happening regularly, causing havoc for vulnerable communities.”
This is a thought that is not always talked about when discussing climate change: that while this is an environmental and economic issue, it is also one of equity. Of justice. Of human rights. The effects of climate change, as well as the policies we put in place to curb these effects, have very real implications for the rights of individuals, particularly in poorer, more “vulnerable communities.”
This rings most true for the health and living standards of populations all over the globe, but particularly in the third world. As a recent report by the Center for International Environmental Law explains, the consequences of climate change can manifest itself in ways that directly threaten individuals’ and communities’ health, means of subsistence, housing, etc. For example, rising sea levels and increased frequency of extreme weather events can lead to widespread destruction of land for farming, housing, and “dislocation of populations.” These results all ultimately threaten guaranteed human rights as outlined in various international treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Another relevant example of this is climate change’s effect on health. Higher temperatures can increase the spread of disease, and natural disasters pose their own risks to individuals’ physical health. Children are particularly vulnerable to these health effects; a statement recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said that children “are exposed to increased risk of injury, death, loss of or separation from caregivers and mental health consequences,” including a higher chance of heat-related mortality. Unsurprisingly, “children in the world’s poorest countries, where the disease burden is disproportionately high, will be the most affected.”
Mitigating these threats ultimately lies with the international community; we will not have true change unless the largest actors come together and commit to proactive measures to reduce our impact on the earth. As I’ve argued in other posts, however, there are also ways that we as individuals can help enact change. Educating and challenging our communities to take action could be a step toward greater awareness and action later on. At the very least, it is an opportunity to demand that the rights of our families, our friends, and our neighbors (whether those on our street or a continent away) not be forgotten.
