Studies show Black communities are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis and environmental pollution. However, conversations about climate change often centre white voices.
In 2021, climate scientists signaled racialized and low-income communities across Canada were hit harder with extreme heat compared to wealthier and predominantly white communities.
The same year, a U.S. report revealed that Black people were most likely to die from the impact of climate change.
Additionally, Black individuals are 34 per cent more likely to live in areas with the highest expected increases in childhood asthma diagnoses due to air pollution, the report found.
The Canadian government needs to address how it plans to include Black communities in its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, considering Black communities are less likely to have access to green spaces.
Voices of Black climate leaders such as Ingrid Waldron and Naolo Charles must be amplified by the media in climate change discussions.
On an educational level, schools should teach environmental racism and its impact on Black communities alongside climate education.
The history of communities such as Africville, N.S. need to be included in discussions of climate justice because of their first-hand experiences with environmental racism. The Halifax municipal government denied residents in the predominantly Black neighbourhood running water, paved roads, electricity and garbage removal until they were eventually forced to relocate their homes.
It’s important that the fight against the climate crisis integrates those who face higher risk of harm.
Feature image form file.
