Climate change doesn’t affect everyone equally. For civil society to support those experiencing its worst effects, we need a common set of principles to help guide our conversations and assessment.
Here are five factors that intersect with climate change. These factors are essential to improve our understanding of the climate crisis and to inform steps toward greater climate justice.
These factors include:
1. Multidimensional poverty and economic inequality
Climate change could push an additional 100 million people in the Arab region below the poverty line by 20301. Individuals identified as multidimensionally poor suffer the most from climate change impacts. This is often because they are highly dependent on natural resources and ecosystem services for their livelihood, employment, and well-being. In addition, individuals experiencing poverty are more exposed to climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts while lacking the financial capacity to recover.
2. Inadequate water supply and sanitation
More than 5% of the world’s population lives in the Arab region, however, this region has less than 1% of the global water resources2. Although access to safe drinking water and sanitation are considered basic human rights, nearly 55 million people in the Arab region do not have access to an improved drinking water source. Nearly 66 million people do not have access to improved sanitation3. Climate change projections show that as a result of less precipitation and increased water demand, renewable water resources will decrease by 20%4 by 2030. In turn, this will reduce water availability, alter agricultural production patterns, threaten livestock production, adversely impact forests and wetlands, and increase the vulnerability of people to water scarcity, food insecurity, and loss of livelihood and biodiversity.
3. Food insecurity and loss of livelihoods
Climate change has severely affected the agricultural sector and has had a negative impact on food security in many areas. Increasing temperatures and evaporation rates, as well as decreasing precipitation trends, impact crop yield, water availability, and land and soil productivity. In fact, unless adaptation and mitigation measures are implemented, a 1.5-2.5°C increase in temperature may reduce crop yields by 30% in Jordan and Egypt5. Climatic shocks and extreme events alter the livelihood strategies of rural people and low-income people whose livelihoods rely on animal production and agricultural productivity.
4. Conflicts, political instability, and migration
Climate change can indirectly increase the risk of conflict by exacerbating factors that lead to it. Studies have found that drought increases conflict intensity, arguably over agricultural resources. Conflicts can have negative implications on the social expenditures of governments. Conflict is also the main driver of increasing humanitarian needs.
5. Generational inequality (youth, children, and elderly)
Climate change impacts are felt disproportionately by different age groups, including youth, children, and the elderly. As the impacts are diverse, so are their needs, priorities, and capacities. Younger generations will bear the cumulative impact of the climate change crisis. They will inherit a natural, physical, and socioeconomic environment that is overall more unequal, with diminished resources and higher risks to lives and livelihoods. Climate change has devastating impacts on school-aged children due to its impacts on access to education, housing, water and sanitation, nutrition, and health6. In the Middle East and North Africa region, 9 out of 10 children live in areas of high or extremely high water stress. Most research indicates that the elderly face higher risks from climate change as compared to other age groups, as well7. They are more likely to have health conditions and compromised immune systems that make them more sensitive to climate hazards.
By better understanding these issues and how they compound upon the pre-existing issues of the climate crisis, we can better learn how to advocate for and create change toward a safer, healthier planet for all.
Sources:
(1)U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, 2021.
(2)IFAD, 2009.
(3)ESCWA, 2021b.
(4)ESCWA, 2017d.
(5)World Bank, 2014.
(6)UNDP/OPHI, 2020.
(7)Harper, 2019; EPA, 2022.