Environment, Climate Change and Health

UBC KIN262 November 6, 2024

according to sociology of the environment, humans and the physical environment are…

mutually influential

what is sociology of the environment concerned with

how humans affect the physical environment and how it affects humans

essentially, how they are mutually influential

what are the 3 key areas of sociology of the environment?

consequences of human (in)action

influence of the environment on humanity and it on the environment

social policies → impact of gov regulation on the environment and, in turn, our health

examples of some products and consumption-related environmental harms

petrochemical industry and its effects on aid and land → insecticide, pesticide → degradation of the environment, cancer and reproductive issues

pollution travels → global impacts compounded on marginalized communities

environmental racism

“how disadvantaged communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental health factors and disasters brought about by government and/or industrial policies”

what does environmental racism show us

the relationship between race, class, and exposure to environmental hazards

how to actually fix things

need to undo centuries of legacies of colonialism and racism

need to identify the root causes as structural to understand how we got here and how to prevent it in the future

why are indigenous communities in Canada more impacted by boil water advisories?

because of inadequacies and chronic underfunding for infrastructure in their communities

lack of resources for their water infrastructure

how are governmental greenhouse gas reports modified to make them look better

reports do not include gas from fires, making it look like there have been improvements when in reality the fires mean CO emissions are like 4x higher

biggest stratification in CO2 emissions

by income. highest income releases like twice as much as the level right below them which is like 10x higher than the lowest

how do refugee crises lead to increased conflict?

groups forced t flee home because it is no longer liveable due to climate change

international migration

racism

xenophobia and xenophobic policies

= CONFLICT

According to WHO, climate change is…

the greatest threat to global health of the 21st century

what are environmental inequities

the fissures through which these crises fester and thrive identity dimensions

what variables determine how a social group is impacted by climate hazards?

identity dimensions

economic and social affluence

immediate built environment

rural/urban setting and planning

socio-historical context

what are identity dimensions and how does they affect how someone is impacted by climate hazards

race, ethnicity, gender, disability, education, health status…

they impact life chances

what is economic and social influence

socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, social connections

most accurate predictor of health outcomes

what is your immediate built environment in relation to climate hazards

proximity/access t cooling centres and green space, state of housing, access to cooling mechanisms (do you have it and are you able/allowed to use it)

how does rural/urban setting and planning impact the effect of climate hazards on someone

urban heat island effects → traps heat, can’t escape at night, hotter inside than outside

historical zoning policies → redlining, poorer, marginalized, vulnerable communities grouped in these hotter areas

how does socio-historical context determine how someone is affected by climate hazards?

historic and ongoing systemic discrimination → low access to housing, community, forced into smaller poorer spaces → colonial legacies, millennia of peoples bodies being ‘more disposable’

national climate regulations or lack thereof

what percentage of heat dome deaths were people older than 70

67% (415 people)

how many of heat dome deaths lived alone

56%

where did most of the people who died during the heat dome live?

in socially or materially deprived neighbourhoods without adequate cooling systems

number 1 weather related cause of heath

heat

what percentage of NYC’s heat related deaths are in its Black communities?

more than 50% despite only being 25% of the population

where is temperature the hottest

in densely packed areas with high auto traffic and little to no green spaces

not coincidentally, this is largely where marginalized populations live

examples of the built environment worsening heat danger

denser housing and high floors

inadequate infrastructure

more traffic

less green space

examples of socio-economical conditions worsening heat danger

more likely to work outside/labour jobs

low access to AC

inadequate or dilapidated housing → lower quality and insecure housing

higher prevalence of pre-existing conditions

little access to healthcare

redlining

areas decided to be not worth finding → not giving parks, amenities, etc, densely packed poor quality housing…

what things can be lined up to match on a map with high heat levels

redlining

low income

health disparity prevalence

AC possession (not even including ability to use it)

children with asthma going to ED

health is a way to do what to climate change

depoliticize it and challenge the ideological barriers around it