- Climate change disproportionately affects economically disadvantaged communities.
- Existing vulnerabilities of the poor are exacerbated by the impacts of climate change.
- Individual and collective actions are crucial to address these inequities.
Climate change pervades every corner of our world, touching every living creature on this planet. However, the burden of its effects is not shared evenly across humanity. One severely affected segment often overlooked are the economically disadvantaged people and communities.
Climate change doesn’t discriminate, but existing societal structures do. People living in poverty already face a multitude of challenges that are further amplified by the effects of climate change. The poor inhabit areas more prone to climate-related disasters such as floods, storms, and droughts. These people, who are already on the fringes of society, bear the brunt of the impact and face a more surreal burden - the climate catastrophe.
The link between climate change and the poor is an increasingly compelling area of scientific and sociological research, with studies highlighting certain disturbing trends. Economically disadvantaged communities have limited resources and less access to social services, hindering their ability to bounce back after devastating events. Climate change compounds their difficulties, increasing their vulnerability and sinking them deeper into the abyss of poverty.
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