An Exploration into the Effects of America’s Climate Crisis
Climate change has been of concern for several decades, but especially recently, it has been a pressing issue that has far-reaching socioeconomic impacts in America. From health effects to financial strain, the crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, exacerbating inequalities that are already present within society.
The WHO (World Health Organization) states that climate change directly contributes to humanitarian emergencies, leading to an increased number of deaths and illnesses, and the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency's) report emphasizes the disproportionate and unequal risks that climate change poses to communities that are the least able to anticipate, cope with, and recover from adverse impacts. Various negative effects are a byproduct of climate change on the status quo.
Climate change poses an unprecedented risk to housing security across the United States. Natural disasters, intensified by climate change, have impacted a significant portion of U.S. housing, with natural disasters impacting 10 percent of all U.S. homes in 2021, resulting in nearly $60 billion in damage and displacing 570,000 people. As climate change intensifies, housing stability will be increasingly under threat, as worsening climates increase the prevalence and severity of natural disasters in tandem. Housing is the primary determinant of people’s financial security and generational wealth in the U.S., and unaffordable and insecure housing leaves families less able to cope with unexpected expenses such as extensive repairs or rebuilding from flooding or wildfires (more than 38 million US households currently live in housing that is not affordable to them).
A report by the U.S. Department of the Treasury highlights how climate hazards impact household finances, with lower-income households, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, women, older adults, and individuals with health conditions or disabilities facing the most significant impacts. This uneven impact serves only to exacerbate pre-existing inequities in society, and further marginalize already-marginalized communities. Following this fact, the EPA's analysis also indicates that racial and ethnic minority communities are particularly vulnerable to the greatest impacts of climate change.
Climate change poses significant threats to the livelihoods and well-being of vulnerable populations in America. The most susceptible groups include low-income households, smallholder farmers, herders, and fisheries who depend on the climate and natural resources for food and income. Climate change affects the cleanliness of the air, depletes water sources, and limits food supply, disrupting livelihoods and pushing people into poverty.
In the United States, more than 100 million people live in areas with poor air quality. Climate-driven changes in weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation, are expected to increase ground-level ozone and particulate matter, such as windblown dust from droughts or smoke from wildfires. Exposure to these pollutants can lead to or worsen health problems, such as respiratory and heart diseases, further exacerbating poverty.
Climate change also impacts water access, with water scarcity becoming more likely in parts of the U.S., particularly the southern regions and the Caribbean and Pacific islands. A study from Harvard projects that by 2071, nearly half of the 204 freshwater basins in the United States may not be able to meet their monthly water demand, due in part to growing populations and the effects of climate change.
To rectify this crisis, policy ideas such as investing in renewable energy, implementing carbon pricing, and promoting sustainable land use have been proposed. The Biden administration has set ambitious goals such as reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, reaching 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, and achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. Other possibilities include advancing market-based solutions to reduce emissions, investing in climate-smart infrastructure and clean energy, and enhancing carbon removal and sequestration. Even radical ideas, such as a carbon tax may be the medicine needed to treat the wound that is rapid climate change.
The transition to a low-carbon economy faces several roadblocks, including political resistance, vested interests in the fossil fuel industry, and perceived economic costs.
Political resistance is a significant barrier, particularly in the United States. Some states that are deeply integrated into the existing fossil-fuel economy, either as producers or consumers, tend to resist efforts to promote the switch to renewables. For instance, President Biden's green energy plans have faced opposition from Republicans in Congress, including Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, who claimed that these plans are undermining the American economy.
Vested interests in the fossil fuel industry also pose a significant challenge. The fossil fuel industry has historically used lobbying groups and public relations campaigns to cast doubt on climate science and resist efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes efforts to change public opinion on the climate crisis by presenting scientific research as unreliable, despite the consensus among scientists. Fossil fuel interests also have a significant presence at climate talks, often through country delegations, which can influence negotiations.
The perceived economic costs of transitioning to a low-carbon economy are another roadblock. The economic transformation required to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 will be massive in scale and complex in execution. However, delaying the transition could result in even greater costs. For example, the International Monetary Fund estimates that delaying the transition could slow global economic growth by 0.15 to 0.25 percentage points annually until 2030, depending on how quickly regions can transition to clean electricity.
The climate crisis in America has significantly negative socioeconomic effects, particularly on vulnerable and marginalized populations. Addressing this crisis will require a conjoined effort from policymakers, businesses, and individuals alike to implement effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. With some teamwork and cooperation, we can- and should- build a more sustainable and resilient future for all.
Dhruv Ajmera is a Junior at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas. In his free time, Dhruv can be seen (attempting) to solve competition math or practicing policy debate.