Climate Change Disproportionately Affects Marginalized Communities, Environmental Experts Say

By Obiabin Onukwugha

Climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities due to patterns of production of dirty energy and consumption patterns as well.

These were the submissions of environmental experts at a one-day webinar organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) USA hub, to examine pressing issues as they affect communities, especially in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

The discussions centered around energy, its costs, and stranded communities has alarming statistics, including decades of oil pollution contaminating the soil, water, and air of the Niger Delta.

During the discussions, HOMEF USA noted that the international community must prioritize solidarity with affected communities and support their environmental justice and human rights demands.

The webinar also proposed that comprehensive environmental audits, health assessments for affected communities, transition to renewable energy, and increased community-led initiatives be put in place in order to address the crisis.

In their submissions, environmental experts Nicholas Johnson and Nnimmo Bassey discussed the devastating consequences of fossil fuel dependency and climate change on stranded communities. This critical conversation highlighted vital issues, including the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities, fossil fuel addiction, and the role of neoliberalism in perpetuating the polycrisis.

Nicholas Johnson in his presentation stressed that consumption patterns contribute to environmental degradation, while stating that solidarity with communities is essential for ecological justice.

He further highlighted critical issues, including the intersection of climate change and human rights, the environmental and social impact on communities, pollution cleanup, environmental study, challenges posed by multinational corporations, grassroots activism, and corporate accountability.

The Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, on his part, emphasised that environmental degradation undermines human rights, particularly the right to life. He highlighted methods to combat climate change, which include learning from communities affected by oil extraction and promoting participatory ecological impact assessments in decision-making. He also stated that payment of climate debt was the right way to handle climate finance as it would address the origins of climate injustice.

According to HOMEF, this critical conversation underscored the urgent need for environmental justice, human rights, and solidarity with stranded communities.