Warming disproportionally affects communities of color and the poor.
Smith 21 — Kelly Anne Smith, reporter for Forbes Advisor, 2021 (“How Communities Of Color Are Hurt Most By Climate Change,” Forbes Advisor, Jun 7th, Available Online at https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/communities-of-color-and-climate-change/, Accessed 07-24-23)
But there’s more research available on the climate gap—how people of color and low-income households will be hit hardest by the consequences of climate change—that gives us insight into the problem.
Economic factors are pivotal in explaining this uneven distribution.
Climate change means the world is growing hotter each year, and weather events are becoming more volatile. A 2009 report from the University of Southern California states consequences of climate change, including extreme heat, devastating floods and air pollution, result in higher risks of death for African Americans and low-income individuals compared to white and wealthier neighborhoods.