Climate Inequities: Climate Change’s Disproportionate Impact on Asian & Pacific Islander Communities

We have been living in an age where climate change becomes more and more pertinent every day, with more and more people waking up realizing how dire it is for the future of our planet. The United Nations states that “climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns” (United Nations). For the past 200 years, climate change has mainly been anthropogenically driven; that is, human activity has greatly contributed to global changes. Deforestation, fossil fuel emissions, and general overconsumption and production have all led to where we are today. The effects of climate change include rising sea levels, intensified natural events (floods, droughts, hurricanes), famine, and decreasing biodiversity, to name just a few. Global warming, a subcategory of climate change, is an extremely relevant and prevalent effect as well. It is important to take note of how climate change uniquely and disproportionately affects certain communities and regions of the world. “Intersectional sustainability is a framework that serves to understand the ways that sustainability topics--such as food, pollution, land use--are inherently topics of race, gender, social class, and other identities that impact marginalized communities” (Swathmore). Through this Activist REPort, we hope to inform on how climate change has impacted Asian and Pacific Islander communities specifically.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Climate Change Effects

How are APISA/APISAA Communities Affected?

An EPA report Kou- GiesbrechtAn showing disproportionate impacts of climate change on socially vulnerable populations in the United States outlines some effects on the APISA/APISAA communities in our world. They may live in locations that are prone to climate-related health hazards, such as flooding, extreme heat, and air pollution. “For example, Asian American communities receive higher exposure to pollution than White communities (Grineski et al. 2017) and are often targeted by harmful development projects (oil refineries, waste treatment plants, chemical plants, etc.) that increase pollution and decrease open space (Sze 2004)” (Kou-Giesbrecht). The following effects will be covered in this infographic: air quality & health, urbanization & redlining, extreme temperatures, and environmental racism.

Activist Report Climate Inequalities Report

Climate change and air pollution has been proven in various research studies to have a disproportionate impact on those in socioeconomically disadvantaged area- such as the areas Asian, African American, and Hispanic populations live in. The proximity of pollution sources such as industrial plants and highways to disadvantaged neighborhoods has been shown to correlate with chronic exposure of harmful particles to its population. Asian Americas, particularly Chinese and Korean Americans, face a higher risk of developing serious health conditions due to their proximity to pollution sites. These health conditions include a variety of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, along with various types of cancers- all correlating with the rising air pollution levels. This is further supported by studies done in places with urban living, where there are densely populated areas with higher pollution levels. The American Lung Association states that, “Hispanics, Asians, and African Americans have a higher risk of premature death from particle pollution,” and experience “increased hospital admissions,” and “premature deaths” related to air pollution (EPA).

Globally, 70% of air pollution-related deaths occur in the Asia-Pacific region. This statistic resonates with the experience of Asian American, Hispanic, and African American communities whose families are disproportionality exposed to severe pollution. Burning fossil fuels and biomass significantly contributes to poor air quality both internationally and domestically. The American Lung Association points out that, “pollution sources tend to be located near socioeconomically disadvantages communities,” making these communities more vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change (EPA). Addressing these environmental injustices is essential to reduce the health burden on vulnerable populations.

Urbanization & Redlining

Eco-intelligent: Graph Depicting Urban Heat Island Effect

Urbanization and redlining have long-lasting effects on communities of color, including Asian, African American, and Hispanic populations, who are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards like extreme heat and pollution. Redlining and residential segregation has contributed to disparities in the summer air temperatures. A study done by the Yale School of Public Health noted that these minorities “consistently experience hotter warm seasons, suggesting that residential segregation contributes to summer air temperature disparities.” (Dee). These areas, known as urban heat islands, suffer from infrastructural designs that are less equipped to absorb heat. These neighborhoods leave residents more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses due to these factors, along with the lack of resources such as air conditioning.

An example of this inequality is Fresno, California; where environmental and infrastructural burdens are felt heavily by disadvantaged communities. The west Fresno neighborhood was once a vibrant community but is now “ranked as the California census tract most burdened by environmental pollution” (Vaughan). This same dynamic can also be seen abroad, where rapid urbanization leads to an increase in air pollution and higher temperatures. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, urbanization in these regions has led to more technological and industrial advancements, which worsen air quality and lead to higher temperatures, as they need to utilize energy to sustain those advancements. These environmental challenges, cause by both historical inequities and modern industrial growth, demonstrate the ongoing environmental injustices faced by Asian and other marginalized communities in urbanized areas.

Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures increasingly threaten the health and livelihood of Asian American communities, especially those working in outdoor, labor-intensive sectors like agriculture. Asian Americans face an elevated risk of heat stress. While genetic studies indicate that Asians may have reduced vulnerability to certain heat-related illnesses, this does not lessen the dangerous working conditions many endure in the U.S. and across APISAA countries. Outdoor workers often labor in unsafe environments for inadequate pay. Moreover, excessive heat causes severe environmental repercussions, such as ocean warming and expansion, which directly threaten Pacific Island nations reliant on fishing and tourism to survive. Climate-induced impacts like coastal flooding and heatwaves intensify challenges for these communities, as demonstrated by coastal inundation in Papua New Guinea, documented by the World Wildlife Fund.

World Wildlife Fund: Coastal inundation in New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea

Environmental Racism

Environmental racism, a concept defined by civil rights leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., refers to the “intentional siting of polluting and waste facilities in communities primarily populated by African Americans, Latines, Indigenous Peoples, Asian Americans and Pacific

DennisonIslanders, migrant farmworkers, and low-income workers” (). Many APISAA communities are located near heavily polluted sites due to historical urbanization, redlining, and inadequate housing infrastructure. These communities often lack the resources or legal means to relocate, especially among migrant workers and those with uncertain citizenship status. Furthermore, government assistance to alleviate environmental degradation’s impacts is extremely limited; regulations are often weakly enforced in marginalized areas. Consequently, these populations face disproportionate vulnerability to the many harmful effects of climate change.

Present Day Connections

Recent natural disasters, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, highlight the devastating impacts of climate change. Fueled by a record-high ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Helene’s rainfall increased by 10% and its winds intensified by 11%, according to a flash study (AP News). The aftermath of these storms is particularly challenging for low-income, predominately people of color communities, which face longer recovery times due to limited resources and media attention. In these areas, the urgency of recovery efforts is downplayed, and the allocation of resources is delayed, which prolongs the hardships for the most in need.

Environmental crises and genocide are also tightly intertwined with each other. U.S. militarism has been fueling the genocide in Gaza, which is producing tons of greenhouse gases and polluting our air. Israel’s bombs are producing harmful pollutants as well, not to mention the direct and immediate harmful health effects to Palestinians from the bombs (burns, rashes, losses of limbs, death, etc.). Food and water sources are irreparably damaged from genocidal acts, as well as olive trees being intentionally burned—not just environmental harm being inflicted, but also cultural and historical harm. Building a more sustainable future includes fighting against militarism. Climate justice as it pertains to APISA/APISAA communities is not a separate issue from climate justice when it comes to Palestinians and oppressed communities abroad; we only have one planet, and when something like militarism and the production of weapons harms one marginalized groups, it harms other marginalized groups as well.

So, What Can We Do?

To combat these intersectional environmental and social injustices impacting the APISAA community, it is essential to advocate for policies that address the specific concerns of marginalized groups. Supporting initiatives like the Clean Power Plan, which aims to reduce carbon pollution and transition to clean energy, can have tangible benefits for at-risk populations. Furthermore, backing Asian American-led environmental organizations such as the Asia Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and Asian Americans in Energy, the Environment, and Commerce (AE2C) is imperative. Educating others about the intersection of climate change and social justice and pushing for intersectional climate policies can help address the root causes of environmental and racial inequities.

Sources:

  • https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change

  • https://www.swarthmore.edu/sustainability/intersectional-sustainability

  • https://archive.epa.gov/epa/sites/production/files/2016-04/documents/aapi-climate- change.pdf

  • https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/clean-power-plan

  • https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-11/factsheet_asian-and-pacific- islander.pdf

  • https://new.nsf.gov/science-matters/pacific-islands-front-line-battle-against-climate

  • https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/climate-change-and-extreme-weather-impacts-hit- asia-hard

  • https://www.ubunturesearch.com/blog/2023/10/27/black-farmers-racism-and-land-loss

  • https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/bes2.1696

  • https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-environmental-racism