Most severely impacted by global warming are those without the means to flee its effects
A new study, led by researcher Lisa Thalheimer of Austria's International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, has identified the people most likely to be harmed by climate change and the forces that trap them in places of high impact. The study, which used a participatory approach known as a world café, recommends focused data collection to understand the makeup of involuntary immobile groups and what's trapping them.
The study notes the dearth of quality data shouldn't impede efforts to help involuntary immobile groups cope - and right now. By 2050, temperatures in the world's 15 hottest refugee camps may exceed 30°C (86°F) for 200 or more days a year, a stark reminder of the urgency to act.
The study proposes an international support mechanism, possibly housed within the United Nations, as a potential solution. Countries including Germany and organizations like the United Nations are mentioned as potential hosts for this mechanism to assist groups displaced by climate events.
The team suggests that responding to the needs of involuntary immobile groups could have a significant impact with relatively small amounts of funding. In the Rohingya's case, research shows that some people are better able to move than others to deal with the threats confronting them.
The study also highlights the importance of addressing the complexity of climate-related involuntary immobility. Laura Kuhl, an associate professor and climate adaptation researcher at Northeastern University, praises the authors' focus on this complexity.
Closer to home, the San Francisco Bay Area, known for its mild weather but only about half of the area's homes have air-conditioning, has started to feel the effects of climate change. As heat waves have become more frequent, communities have turned youth centres, libraries, and parks into "cooling centres" for unhoused, undocumented, and other vulnerable residents.
In July 2024, a heat wave swept through the San Francisco Bay Area, with coastal areas reaching 32°C (90°F) and inland communities breaching 43°C (110°F). The study notes that such extreme temperatures pose a significant threat to the region's vulnerable populations.
Andrew Kruczkiewicz, a lecturer at Columbia University, acknowledges that there's more to be done in the study. The paper is meant to start a discussion and lead to further work, according to Kruczkiewicz.
The study identifies addressing involuntary immobility as "low-hanging fruit" because those threatened most by climate change could benefit from comparatively straightforward interventions. While the study works to identify what drives involuntary immobility, focusing on how to solve those problems would also be helpful, according to Laura Kuhl.
The study serves as a call to action for governments, organizations, and communities worldwide to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable populations in the face of climate change.
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