Climate Change: A Shared Responsibility, Essay Example

Pope Francis’ claim that climate change is not simply an environmental issue, but affects “social, economic, political” conditions on Earth, as well as the distribution of goods puts the question in a new perspective. It is likely that social justice on Earth is going to be affected by the impact of climate change, and the distribution of disadvantages will not be proportionate. The below paper is focusing on the unequal social distribution of global warming’s negative impact.

Climate change is likely to increase social injustice, by affecting disadvantaged areas more than counties where the government has resources for early intervention and disaster management. . We have seen just this year with the earthquake that destroyed much of Kathmandu how great devastation a natural disaster in poor countries can create. On the 12^th of May, almost 9 thousand people died and 22,000 injured (Unicef). On the other hand, without resources to rebuild homes and infrastructure, communities can be destroyed and mass migration might happen. Communities without resources to defend themselves will be more likely to suffer from the consequences of global warming.

While many international organizations talk about climate change’s impact on the environment, only a few estimates related to the economic consequences of warmer temperatures, higher tides, rising sea levels, and increased pollution. According to a recent study quoted by Harvey, global warming costs the world a total of $1.2 trillion each year, and one percent rise in temperatures results in 10 percent productivity loss of farming. Further, the hotter summers will increase energy consumption in the developed world, due to more air conditioning systems operating at the same time. However, the same rise in temperature in Africa, where water is scarce, and there is a lack of shelter, human lives will be lost. This creates an unequal distribution of impacts. Global change is not only related to one country, but our “common home”. Countries can make pledges to decrease their greenhouse gas emissions, but if other governments are not collaborating with them, their pollution levels will be affected by other states’ industrial activities and policies. Pope Francis is indeed right, when he talks about our common home, as it is every person’s responsibility to preserve the Earth in a state that it is suitable for human life. Borders do not apply to the atmosphere, and one country can create a devastation in another one. Just like polluting a river in one country could potentially destroy the other country’s fish industry, contributing towards climate change could negatively affect social justice. The poor will always suffer more than the rich, as they will have no means of protection from the environmental impacts of global warming. Rich countries’ governments do not try to create benefits for the entire population of the Earth, but focus on protecting the citizens of their country.

The obvious consequences of climate change, such as more severe weather patterns and increased number of natural disasters will bring forward social consequences. The damage to properties, businesses, and infrastructure will make governments create extra resources for rebuilding and community rehabilitation, and communities will be destroyed or forced to relocate. The Climate Hot Map’s report states that there is a need for international collaboration, as the poorest people in developing countries are now living in areas that are the most likely to be affected by severe weather caused by climate change. Climate change’s impacts will increase social inequality around the globe.  As a World Bank report confirms: “As the coastal cities of Africa and Asia expand, many of their poorest residents are being pushed to the edges of livable land and into the most dangerous zones for climate change”.  Therefore, it is time that authors look at the difference in various countries’ abilities to cope with global warming and create an international strategy to help them prepare.

Works Cited

Climate Hot Map. “Costs” 2015. Web.

Harvey, F. “Climate change is already damaging global economy, report finds” The Guardian. 2012. Web.

Unicef “Nepal Earthquake” 2015. Web.

World Bank. “What Climate Change Means for Africa, Asia and the Coastal Poor” 2013. Web.