How Climate Change Disproportionately Impacts Minorities- Part 2
By Sanjoli Gupta
Soil salinity is disproportionately affecting rural communities and minorities, which causes a loss of livelihood and the urgency to move to cities for employment opportunities. The salinity, or salt content, of soil greatly impacts the plants’ ability to grow, and sustain life in the area. The two main effects are an inability for a plant to absorb water and the accumulation of salt in the cells of the plants, which leads to major harm (Provin and Pitt).
It's almost impossible for people relying on the soil to provide food and a steady income to continue their livelihood in the area. Salt in an area increases when the groundwater rises or there is flooding. For example, the increase in soil salinity causes Bangladeshis specifically to move to different areas. "We find that fewer Bangladeshis migrate to neighboring countries when the share of inundated land in their sub-district increases. On the other hand, 4% more Bangladeshis will move across the border with a one% increase in the share of saline-contaminated soil in their sub-district" (Chen and Mueller).
When some people leave an area, herd mentality may push others to move away as well when friends and communities disappear. This also makes it difficult to sustain a town or district as its population dwindles. Watching people's lives collapse because of climate change and the depletion of community may also convince people to move and secure their future. An overwhelming number of people may need to be fed in small towns leading to a "flash-flood" of climate refugees in large cities.
This has an extreme impact, making innocent people vulnerable and afraid for their lives, health, and job security. Climate change disbelievers could argue that Bangladesh is the sole example. How do we know if it’s the only area being impacted, or if other countries are facing similar issues as well? Because climate change is a global issue with a multitude of impacts all over the world, it can be seen that Bangladesh doesn’t stand alone. Another example of an impacted country is the Philippines, which faces 20 storms and typhoons annually, despite contributing to less than 0.4% of the problem (Murga).
Having an average of 20 storms a year hinders one's ability to survive on an island, and will make it impossible for people to keep living in inhabitable conditions. If one must wake up every morning and wonder if there will be a storm, they will not be inclined to live in the area and will eventually leave. In fact, “about 55 percent of Filipinos age 15 and over have ever moved to or resided in another city/municipality, province, region or country for three months or more since birth.” (Dennis).
Mass exodus creates even larger megacities and depletes the mother countries of talented workers since they have moved to other countries with better housing and jobs.
In summary: soil salinity may not seem like a large problem in the scheme of things, but is leading to migration and the building up of megacities. Zoning laws and discrimination lead to large scale population reduction because of a disproportionate housing impact on minorities and as a result they are displaced from livable housing in large cities to cramped unhygienic living conditions in the slums. Another outcome is coastal regions' flooding causing death and a loss of livelihood.
Works Cited:
Provin , Tony, and J.L. Pitt. “Managing Soil Salinity - How Does Salinity Affect Soil?” Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 4 Mar. 2019, Agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/managing-soil-salinity/.
Chen, Joyce, and Valerie Mueller. "Climate-induced cross-border migration and change in demographic structure." Population & Environment. Academic Research Center, search.ebscohost.com/ login.aspx?direct=true&db=8gh&AN=140205882&site=ehost-live. Accessed 28 Mar. 2022. Originally published in Population & Environment, vol. 41, no. 2.
Dennis, Claire. “More than Half of Filipinos 15 Years and over Have Ever Migrated (Results from the 2018 National Migration Survey).” Philippine Statistics Authority, 28 Jan. 2020, Psa.gov.ph/content/
Murga, Arnel. “Filipinos Count Cost of Climate Crisis as Typhoons Get Ever More Destructive.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 5 Jan. 2022, Theguardian.com/global-development/
Image from: The Churchill Observer
