The Human Cost of our Environmental Crisis

“We are not faced with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.”

Writing in Laudato Si’ – Pope Francis’ letter to the world on care for our common home – the leader of the Catholic Church highlights the inextricable link between environmental and social justice.

With climate change dominating the headlines during the UK’s ongoing COP presidency, talk of melting ice caps, deforestation, plastic pollution, and rising sea levels are just a few hot topics for debate, but how much do we hear of the human impact of our environmental crisis?

Today marks World Day of Social Justice, so we’re taking a look at how the damage humanity inflicts on the environment washes up on the shores of countries around the world.

Here in the UK, the concept of climate change is still widely thought of as an almost apocalyptic notion; something far off in the future that won’t affect our society for generations at least.

However, communities around the world are already seeing the devastating effects of climate change; with fires, floods, droughts, and other natural disasters taking their toll on communities least able to adapt to a changing climate, and least responsible for bringing about that change.

Figures published by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre reveal that more than 318 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced by floods, windstorms, earthquakes, or droughts since 2008, of which 30.7 million people were displaced in 2020 alone.

That equates to one person being displaced every second.

And that number looks set to rise as UNHCR – the United Nations Refugee Agency – predicts the number of people requiring humanitarian aid as a result of climate-related emergencies could double to over 200 million by 2050.

As raising temperatures melt our polar ice caps and cause sea levels to rise, millions of people living in low-lying areas will be at increased risk of flooding, with some low-lying islands potentially being wiped out completely, in addition to coastal areas closer to home, including here in the UK.

Furthermore, resources from CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) reports that increased salt from rising sea levels could have a knock-on effect on land, causing ground water to become undrinkable and making it more difficult to grow crops.

This alone will have a devastating impact on many communities around the world that depend on the land they live on in order to survive.

Compounding the situation, think tank ODI estimates that a possible temperature rise of 2 – 3 degrees over the next 20 years could result in up 200 million more people being at risk of hunger.

Without the ability to grow their own food to sustain lives and livelihoods, and without the financial and technological means to adapt to a changing climate, families will have no choice but to follow in the footsteps of millions of others and leave their homes.

For those fortunate enough to still be able to live on and work the land where they live, there are other dangers from large corporations, businesses, and even governments looking to monopolise on the fruit of the earth and communities who have cared for it for generations.

Writing in his 2020 apostolic letter on the Amazon, Querida Amazonia, Pope Francis condemns the culture of exploitation, persecution, and killings that is directed towards indigenous communities.

He said: “It is well known that, ever since the final decades of the last century, the Amazon region has been presented as an enormous empty space to be filled, a source of raw resources to be developed, a wild expanse to be domesticated.

“None of this recognises the rights of the original peoples; it simply ignores them as if they did not exist, or acts as if the lands on which they live do not belong to them. Even in the education of children and young people, the indigenous were viewed as intruders or usurpers.

“Their lives, their concerns, their ways of struggling to survive were of no interest. They were considered more an obstacle needing to be eliminated than as human beings with the same dignity as others and possess of their own acquired rights.”

As debates continue about the true cost of our environmental challenges, it is clear that a price is already paid: a price of social injustice and human suffering.

But it is not too late.

By understanding the problems, we can identify solutions, and by taking small steps in our own individual lives, we can contribute to a collective cry for change.

What can we do to achieve environmental and social justice?

• Take steps to become more sustainable

We can protect both planet and people by making small changes to our everyday lives to become more sustainable. By reducing our energy consumption and switching to cleaner alternatives, we can join the wave of people already enjoying a greener way of life and living more sustainably. Whether it’s by driving less, switching your energy supplier, turning off lights, or eating less meat, there are plenty of small steps you can take to make a big difference to our collective carbon footprint.

 

• Lobby your MP

Our MPs are elected to represent us and the causes we care about. By emailing or writing to your MP, you can share your concerns with someone who has the power to take our hopes and visions to a more public stage. Whether it’s increasing awareness of issues of environmental and social injustice around the world, or holding our government to account, lobbying your MP is a fantastic place to start.

 

• Sign petitions

Similarly, signing petitions is another great way to make a difference. Many charities such as CAFOD, Tearfund, the Climate Coalition, Christian Aid, and more, have a number of campaigns that generate great publicity and help highlight environmental and humanitarian issues to people who have the power to affect change.

 

• Use your voice

Your voice is a powerful tool in raising awareness of ongoing issues and encouraging others to make a difference. A simple conversation with a family member or a friend can go a long way in helping others understand some of the issues we are facing in our world today, and how small, individual actions in our small corner of the globe can impact on the rest of the world. Whether it’s talking, blogging, vlogging, or raising awareness on social media, your voice can become a powerful catalyst for change.

 

• Support ethical businesses

The way businesses operate can have a massive impact on the lives of people and communities around the world. A little research can throw up traditions of exploitation and abuse with some of the most popular brands in the western world but thankfully, more and more ethical and sustainable alternatives are appearing to offer a more responsible consumer experience. By shopping around and reassessing your usual go-to brands, you can vote with your wallet and ensure you are supporting businesses that protect our planet and the lives, culture, and heritage of communities around the world.