The planet earth’s climate is undergoing rapid change that has resulted in human disasters. Climate change effects are causing wide-scale migration of people and impacting homeless populations, many of whom live in unsheltered locations.

Northern Triangle

Climate change is a driving force in Central American migration.  Researchers have documented that “climate displacement” is especially prevalent in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, also known as the Northern Triangle.  These countries have experienced climate-related impacts including food insecurity, recurring droughts, decline in agricultural production, increase susceptibility to disease and water scarcity. 

Experts predict that climate change effects will displace up to 3.9 million people across Mexico and Central America by 2050 (Human Rights Network, 2021). The Northern Triangle is in the cross-hairs of increasing temperatures and extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. The vast numbers of migrants will require that countries take into consideration climate change displacement as part of its asylum framework.

In a report, Shelter from the Storm: Policy Options to Address Climate Induced Displacement from the Northern Triangle, the last decade has seen the warmest ever recorded temperatures. Impacts have included severe weather, degradation of the environment, sinking coastal zones, sea level rise and regular flooding of coastal cities. According to research in the Shelter from the Storm, Mexico and eastern South America hit record-high average land temperatures, while the global average sea surface temperature reached the second highest level.

U.S. Coastal Areas

Scientists predict that climate change will lead to large-scale movements of people within and across borders, including the U.S. For instance, nearly 13 million coastal residents in the U.S. are expected to be displaced by 2100 due to sea level rise. They will migrate to cities not at risk from sea level rise, requiring long term planning for an influx of people.

Although I live 5 hours from the Georgia coast, my wife and I have traveled along the Gulf coast of the U.S. for the last 20 years traveling twice a year in September and March from Atlanta to Round Top, Texas which is mid-way between Houston and Austin. We witnessed the displacement of many people due to Hurricanes including Katrina, Rita, Humberto, Gustav, Ike, Harvey and others. Our timing for travel in the fall was always after these hurricanes. Some people we met lost or had their homes damaged. Some were displaced temporarily or had to move permanently.

The displacement of people because of hurricanes happened at least 5 of the years we traveled. The increased average temperate in the Gulf of Mexico has resulted in more and fiercer hurricanes. We should expect this pattern to continue putting at risk millions of people along the Gulf coast, as well as the East and West coasts of the United States.

Homelessness

Climate change is also impacting an estimated 580,000 people experiencing homelessness in America. Homelessness has increased for the fourth straight year. The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress indicated that 61% were staying in sheltered locations, while 39% were in unsheltered locations such as on the street, in abandoned building or other places not suitable for human habitation (Exhibit 1.1). In 2020, just under 173,00 people in families with children were in sheltered locations (90%), while 13% were in unsheltered locations. And 34,000 people under age of 25 experienced homelessness on their own as “unaccompanied youth.” Most were between ages 18 – 24. African American and Native American people were considerably overrepresented among homeless compared to the U.S. population.

Climate change effects are putting an increasing number of people at risk. Hurricanes which cause intense coastal flooding impacts major cities, especially along the East coast from Miami north to Boston. In the recent past, the cities of St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Savannah, and Charleston have flooded at least once every five years. With constant sea level rise because of arctic ice melting, flooding of coastal cities and contingent landscapes has put at risk not only property but people who inhabit these areas. In 2007, in the Supreme Court case, Massachusetts vs. EPA, the court ruled that coastal areas were being harmed by sea level rise associated with global temperature increase. This was a landmark case because it meant that the court ruled that the EPA had to monitor all greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide.

The impact of climate change on the most vulnerable of people is real. As shown in this post, millions of people will displaced and put at risk by changes in climate.