From forest fires in Canada and Greece to massive floods in Vermont and California – not to mention scorching heat waves across the globe – recent events underscore the fact that climate disasters are an inevitable part of our future. It is estimated that over 2 billion people will be at risk of exposure to intense heat by the end of the century. Here in the U.S., the Census Bureau indicates that one in four residents are socially vulnerable to extreme heat waves. In the U.S., people of color are disproportionately impacted by climate change due to their occupations. Non-citizens and Latino workers, who make up more than 75% of agricultural workers, are twenty times more likely to die from heat-related illnesses than the general population. Meanwhile, Black people are 40% more likely to live in areas with the highest estimated increases in mortality rates due to changes in temperature.
Regional inequities also play a role in which parts of the U.S. will be most impacted by climate change. Geographies that naturally have hot climates, such as the Southeast U.S. region, will only get hotter. According to a new index created by Texas A&M University and the Environmental Defense Fund, those who reside in that region will be most susceptible to future climate disasters. These vulnerabilities are exacerbated by a lack of political will which makes it challenging to implement comprehensive long-term strategies that meet the needs of diverse communities.
However, there is still time to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Climate justice leaders and organizations are working tirelessly to develop the social and economic infrastructure needed to help protect the communities most at risk of experiencing the worst effects of environmental disasters. Join us for a timely discussion with experts from the climate justice movement on their strategies for building climate resilience in the South and learn how philanthropy can invest in transformative solutions to lessen the harms of climate change on immigrant and BIPOC communities.
