[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By J. Mijin Cha
Policy Specialist
Progressive States Network

Too often, the impact that policies and measures have on low-income and marginalized communities is considered only as an afterthought, if at all. Climate change policies are no exception.

While everyone will be impacted by the effect of climate change, the impacts will be distributed unequally. For example, temperatures are expected to increase across the country resulting in higher cooling costs, which more greatly affects poorer households. But the impacts go beyond just increased cooling costs. Higher temperatures will have a greater effect on those with poorer health and lack of access to hospitals and health care. People of color and low-income communities face more health care disparities, including less routine care and unequal access to quality care. As a result, these communities will doubly suffer from the effects of climate change.