Inequalities in Climate Impacts
- Climate change affects everyone, but not equally.
- Geographic, social and economic inequalities shape who bears the brunt of its impacts.
Bangladesh faces severe flooding, while the Netherlands invests in advanced flood defenses.
Geographic Inequalities: Location Matters
Low-Lying Areas vs. Arid Regions
- Low-Lying Areas: Coastal regions and island nations are highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surges.
- Bangladesh: Frequent coastal flooding affects millions, damaging homes and infrastructure.
- Maldives: Rising seas threaten to submerge the entire nation, prompting relocation plans.
- Arid Regions: Deserts and semi-arid areas face worsening droughts and water scarcity.
- Sahel Region: Prolonged droughts lead to crop failures and food insecurity.
- Australia: Increased bush fires and water shortages strain resources.
Geographic location determines exposure to climate hazards, but socioeconomic factors influence how communities cope.
Economic Inequalities: Wealth Shapes Resilience
Wealthier Nations vs. Low-Income Countries
- High-Income Countries (HICs): Greater resources for adaptation and mitigation.
- Netherlands: Invests in flood defenses like dikes and storm surge barriers.
- Japan: Advanced early warning systems reduce disaster impacts.
- Low-Income Countries (LICs): Limited resources and reliance on external aid.
- Haiti: Struggles to rebuild after hurricanes due to economic constraints.
- Mozambique: Cyclone Idai in 2019 caused widespread devastation, with slow recovery.
Avoid assuming that wealth alone determines resilience. Social factors like governance and community networks also play critical roles.
Social Inequalities: Vulnerability Within Communities
Gender, Age, and Education
- Gender: Women often face higher vulnerability due to social roles and responsibilities.
- Care-giving Roles: Women are more likely to care for children and the elderly during disasters, limiting their mobility.
- Economic Dependency: In many regions, women have less access to financial resources and decision-making.
- Age: The elderly and children are particularly vulnerable.
