People from ethnic minority communities in Britain are, on average, more affected by the climate and nature crises than White British people due to profound societal inequity, according to an evidence review by NPC and the Race Equality Foundation as part of the Everyone’s Environment
programme.
The findings come in a briefing for charities and funders as part of the Everyone’s Environment programme, a collaboration of over 40 environmental and social charities and funders, on how both climate change and the decline in nature in the UK will impact people from ethnic minority
communities.
The briefing found that the impact upon physical and mental health is the most evidenced, but that there is also evidence of impact on income, skills, and jobs:
- People from ethnic minority communities in low-income households and those already experiencing health inequalities are the most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate and nature crises – particularly through poorly adapted housing, air pollution, and lack of access to green spaces.
- The impact of policies on people from ethnic minority communities is mixed. Some policies, like those targeting fuel poverty, insulation, and air pollution will bring benefits. But this is likely because people from ethnic minority communities are most likely to experience fuel poverty and live in polluted areas in the first place. The evidence suggests people from
ethnic minority communities are less likely to benefit from policies on electric vehicles and solar panels but are more likely to want green jobs and to start cycling.
Those affected will likely include people supported by charities and other civil society organisations. The Everyone’s Environment initiative is encouraging charities and their funders to better understand the impacts of the changing environment on the communities they serve and what they need to change to support people through the green transition.
Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, comments:
“Black, Asian, and minority ethnic people in the UK are more likely to live in urban areas and have bad air quality. Tall buildings, narrow roads, and a lack of green spaces all contribute to air pollution. Areas without enough green spaces have worse air quality. The death of nine year old Ella Kiss-Debrah, caused by air pollution, highlights the risks faced by minority groups due to increased carbon emissions. The connection between air pollution and health issues is clear. Recent evidence that air pollution worsens the effects of COVID-19 makes it even more important that we address this environmental inequality. ”
The briefing found significant gaps in evaluations of the impact of national government policies on people from ethnic minority communities – particularly on policies to make places greener and help people access nature.
Leah Davis, Head of Policy and External Affairs, at NPC comments:
“The environmental crises are human crises, yet this review suggests the UK government
need to do more to assess the impact of their policies on people from ethnic minority communities, particularly people on lower incomes. With a stronger focus on these impacts, the government has a much better chance of achieving their environmental goals and making sure everyone enjoys the benefits of a healthier environment.”
Read the full briefing How will the climate and nature crises impact people from Black, Asian, and Ethnic Minority Communities?
This briefing is part of the Everyone’s Environment programme, a collaboration of over 40 social and environmental charities and funders to empower people from different social groups to have their needs reflected in environmental decision making and policy. It is the second in a series that will be published over the coming months, which will summarise how the climate and nature crises will impact different social groups, including young people, older people, disabled people and people from ethnic minority communities, and what changes would be most impactful.
View the Everyone’s Environment launch webinar here.
Join the next Everyone’s Environment event here.
Notes
This briefing was informed by a rapid literature review of the impact of the climate and nature crises on people from ethnic minority communities, as well as available literature on the impact of government policies related to those areas. This includes policy directly related to the environment (such as biodiversity), as well as broader policy which significantly impacts the climate and nature crises (such as housing). We focused on current UK policies, but we have also indicated the impacts of some older policies.
The work was funded by funded by The William Grant Foundation (a non-profit association established to support charitable causes in Scotland funded by William Grant and Sons Ltd.) and by City Bridge Trust (the funding arm of The City of London Corporation’s charity, Bridge House Estates).
