BaCCC/Module 5/Lesson 1/Part 2
The justification for intersectionality
| “ | Intersectionality is directly tied to oppression. Oppression is the force that allows, through the power of norms and systems, the unjust treatment or control of people. Intersectionality shows us that social identities work on multiple levels, resulting in unique experiences, opportunities, and barriers for each person. Therefore, oppression cannot be reduced to only one part of an identity; each oppression is dependent on and shapes the other. Understanding intersectionality is essential to combatting the interwoven prejudices people face in their daily lives. | ” |
| —University of British Columbia (2021) | ||
An intersectional approach to climate change mitigation and adaption is justified because it recognises that people are not defined by a single identity or experience, but rather by multiple intersecting identities and experiences that shape their vulnerabilities and capacities in the face of climate change.
The world’s most vulnerable countries – and the most vulnerable within each country – are being impacted by climate change first and worst. Let’s peel back the layers to see why some people and populations are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than others. (This will remind you of your learning in Module 3 – Climate Justice.)
The impacts of climate change are not distributed equally across the globe, with the world’s most vulnerable countries and populations being the first and worst affected. This is due to a combination of factors, including their geographical location, their level of socio-economic development and their limited capacity to adapt to the changing climate.
Many of the world’s most vulnerable countries are located in regions that are particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, such as coastal areas and small island nations. These regions are often highly exposed to extreme weather events, sea level rise and other climate-related hazards, which can lead to devastating consequences for local communities.
Colonialism has also played a significant role in exacerbating vulnerability to climate change in many of the world’s most vulnerable countries. During the colonial era, many countries in the Global South were subjected to exploitation and the extraction of resources, leading to widespread environmental degradation and disruption of traditional ways of life. This legacy of colonialism has left many countries and communities with limited resources and infrastructure to cope with the impacts of climate change, as well as deep-seated social and economic inequalities that continue to shape vulnerability to climate-related hazards.
Many of these countries have also ended up among the least developed in the world, with limited resources and infrastructure to cope with the impacts of climate change. This means that vulnerable populations within these countries, such as the poor, women and children, and those living in rural areas, are usually the hardest hit by climate change, with their livelihoods and well-being being severely impacted.
Overall, the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the world’s most vulnerable countries (and the most vulnerable people within all countries) underscore the urgent need for greater and more equitable global efforts to address the root causes and impacts of climate change. This includes addressing the underlying social and economic inequalities that pin vulnerability to climate change, as well as providing greater support for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in the world’s most vulnerable communities. In other words, it is not fair, so we all need to fix it – in ways that recognise each community’s intersecting vulnerabilities.
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Imagine a woman living in a rural community, in a developing country that is experiencing the impacts of climate change. Because she is a woman, she may already face limitations in terms of access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities and land ownership. In addition, as a member of a marginalised ethnic group, she might be facing discrimination and exclusion from decision-making processes related to climate adaptation. Now, if we add the impacts of climate change to this woman’s experience, we can see how her multiple identities intersect to create a unique set of challenges. For example, if droughts or floods make it difficult for her to access clean water or grow crops, she may have to walk longer distances to find water sources or purchase food at higher prices, which can further exacerbate her financial struggles. Additionally, if she is older or has a disability, then extreme weather events might make it very difficult for her to travel to an emergency shelter or health clinic, which can impact her health and safety outcomes. |
This example demonstrates that intersectionality can help us understand how different aspects of a person’s identity can interact and compound (add up and possibly make each other worse) to create unique vulnerabilities and challenges in the face of climate change, and therefore, how important it is to consider the different lived experiences of marginalised people as we plan and implement mitigation and adaptation strategies.
