Climate Change Is Provoking More Social Inequalities

The poorest people in Latin America are living in the most vulnerable locations with the weakest infrastructure, where climate change related natural disasters mostly impact, and where this population does not have means of prevention and/or protection to catastrophic events. Therefore, “the environmental impacts have social implications... affecting people’s livelihoods, food security, and health. Excessive stress on those determinants of human well-being will increase poverty and income inequality.” (Verner 2010: 6)


Climate change is not only affecting the environment where we live and the resources we count on to sustain our way of living. It is also causing water scarcity, natural disasters, rural livelihoods reduction, ecotourism problems, etc. Moreover, it is a threat to the development of our countries since poverty reduction and economic growth are at risk. Finally, it may unravel many of the development gains made in recent decades.

Climate change and climate variability are causing negative economic impacts to the region. It is estimated that by the year 2050 the cost of damages due to climate-related events will be from 1.3 percent to 7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

“In a vicious cycle, poverty makes people vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and in turn, climate change makes people vulnerable to poverty.” (Verner 2010: 306) Since the poorest people are the ones mostly affected by the climate change, it is consequently increasing the gap between poor and rich people, thereby producing inequalities.

“Clearly, the social impacts of climate change depend not just on biophysical exposure but also on the vulnerability of people and institutions to shocks. Vulnerability is shaped by the wider political economy of resource use, and as would be expected, is particularly pronounced among the region’s poor.” (Verner 2010: 315)

Nevertheless, the impact of climate change can be reduced significantly with good governance, which may include incentives to organization of local communities, creating strong infrastructure, protection of natural resources, increasing access to education, creating affordable housing and job opportunities.

Additionally, at the government level, specific attention should be paid to building up both institutional and human capacity to better identify and address the needs of populations highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. By strengthening the institutions and infrastructure designed to respond to rapid-onset and slow-onset climate-related disasters, along with enhancing the human capital involved, the government is better equipped to protect citizens and their assets, as well as the country’s recent development gains and future prospects. (Verner 2010: 330)

In conclusion, due to the direct impact of climate change on the social excluded population -which increases poverty and inequality- Latin America and Caribbean governments must include in their development programs climate change issues and actions to reduce its effects in their countries.


References:

1. Verner, Dorte. Reducing Poverty, Protecting Livelihoods, and Building Assets in a Changing Climate: Social Implications of Climate Change for Latin America and the Caribbean. World Bank. (2010). Web. June 2013.
2. Scher, Sara J. A downward spiral? Research evidence on the relationship between poverty and natural resource degradation. Food Policy 25 (2000) 479–498. Web. June 2013.
3. Global Citizens. The link between climate change and poverty. Global Citizens. April 04, 2013. Web. June 2013.