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“…You don’t expect people to die in a flood in Germany. You expect it maybe in poor countries, but you don’t expect it here.”
A comment caught my attention as I was watching a news report online. A lady was speaking to a local news channel about the recent floods in her district. I empathized with her struggle in such a difficult time, and at the same time, I couldn’t help but think, “How can anyone casually suggest it’s okay for people in poorer countries to die from climate disasters? And have the lack of sensitivity to announce it on TV? “
Unfortunately, the disproportionate-ness of climate disasters extends far beyond people’s perceptions. It seeps through communities, structures, policies, nations, and countries that contribute the least to climate change often bear the heaviest burden.
The World Inequality database estimates that the wealthiest countries in the world, or the ‘Global North’, are responsible for around half of all emissions since the Industrial Revolution(Generation Climate Europe, 2022). The United States is responsible for 20 per cent of historical emissions and has emitted more carbon than any other country. The EU nations follow the lead and are responsible for 22 per cent of global CO2 emissions (Ülgen, 2021). On the contrary, the Global South accounts for the smallest share of global greenhouse gas emissions— e.g. the African continent accounts for only 3.8 per cent (Sy, 2016). Similarly, some of the most vulnerable nations, including the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), contribute less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions (International Renewable Energy Agency, 2024).
Disproportionate impacts of climate change
Rising sea levels, degrading air quality, and reducing food and water security are some climate change impacts that disproportionately hit the Global South the hardest.
Bangladesh is one of the countries that is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels. Tidal surges, erosion, and flooding induced by sea-level rise are predicted to significantly risk ecosystems and agricultural and socioeconomic conditions in the country. Bangladesh contributes only about 0.47% of the global emissions (UNDP, 2023). Despite this, the country risks losing 17% of its territory and creating 20 million refugees in the next 150 years through the projected sea-level rise disasters (Shariot-Ullah, 2024).
Water scarcity and droughts are also increasingly common in many developing countries, exacerbated by climate change. One such country, Peru, which contributes only about 0.38% of global GHG emissions, faces severe water scarcity risks. With half of the population located in arid climates, water supply is projected to decrease further in dry seasons due to shrinking glaciers (World Data Lab, 2024).
Furthermore, climate change is adding to a hunger crisis in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan, with over 31.5 million people experiencing its impacts. The countries contribute only 0.1% of the global emissions, and despite that, have been forced to incur over 30 billion losses (from 2021-2023), resulting from devastating floods and droughts (Hassane & Behar, 2023).
Not only that, but air pollution is also one of the areas where the poorer nations shoulder the burden of climate change. Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, is ranked as one of the most polluted capitals in the world. It has seen an increase in respiratory infections at a rate of 270% over the last 10 years(Hincks, 2018). Mongolia’s share of global emissions is minimal at 0.16%, yet the country’s air pollution crisis is increasing at an alarming pace (UNDP, 2023).
Bridging the climate injustice gap through shared responsibility
With their historical and ongoing emissions, developed countries have a moral and ethical obligation to lead in addressing climate change. This includes reducing their carbon footprints and providing adaptation and mitigation support to vulnerable populations in developing countries. Voices of the Global South must be prioritized at policy-making tables. Initiatives like the Loss and Damage Fund and the Green Climate Fund are steps in the right direction and must be sustained. On an individual and community level, awareness about the disproportionate impacts of climate change is crucial. Climate change affects us all; thus, we all have a profound responsibility to contribute to adaptation and mitigation efforts for a sustainable future.
References
Generation Climate Europe. (2022). Global North and Global South: How Climate Change Uncovers Global Inequalities.
Hassane.,F & and Behar, A. (2023). Hunger in East Africa Is a True Testament to Climate Injustice. Inter Press Service News Agency.
Hincks.,F(2018). Life in Ulan Bator, the World’s Most Polluted Capital. TIME.
International Renewable Energy Agency. (2024). Small Island Developing States at a Crossroads: The socio-economics of transitioning to renewables.
Shariot-Ullah, M.. (2024). Sea-level rise and sustainable shore protection strategies in the low-lying delta: A case study of Bangladesh. Regional Studies in Marine Science.
Ülgen., S.( 2021). How Deep Is the North-South Divide on Climate Negotiations? Carnegie Europe.
UNDP. (2023). Where We Work.
World Data Lab.(2024). Water Scarce Countries: Present and Future.
