LGBT Jamaicans and climate change

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The effects of climate change are real. This is observed in longer droughts, melting ice caps, the rising sea level, stronger and more frequent hurricanes, as well as forest fires and spread of vector-borne and communicable diseases.

The negative effects on livelihoods are numerous and the impacts on different demographics vary due to issues relating to income, marginalisation, and access to basic necessities.

While there has been a significant push to ensure gender balance in the climate response as well as an outlook to protect rural, elderly, and other vulnerable populations, there has been very little research into the impact of climate change on the LGBTQ+ community.

Interestingly, however, despite the LGBTQ+ community’s vulnerability to climate change, research on the impacts it has on this community is scant.

A pilot research on Climate Change and LGBT Jamaicans examining the perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and impact, commissioned by Equality For All Foundation, suggests that income is centrally linked to the quality of life, job and housing security, social rank and access, as well as pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours of LGBTQ+ Jamaicans.

Due to this link, LGBT people who are unemployed or who are earning a low income may have a reduced capacity to act in the event of a climate disaster where financial capital is necessary.

As it now stands, Jamaica’s disaster risk management framework with respect to the emergency response mechanisms do not cater to the specific needs of the LGBT+ community in Jamaica. This is also the case in the Regional Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy and Programming Framework 2014–2024 Draft developed by Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

This lack of inclusion means that there are no specific interventions for LGBT Jamaicans in the event of a natural disaster, thereby leaving members of the community exposed.

LGBT people and other vulnerable groups should be included in the disaster risk management framework to lessen the impact of climate change on the community by employing appropriate strategies, taking into consideration their various vulnerabilities.

There should also be awareness around the non-discriminatory impacts of climate change, with increased public calls for equity in the response mechanisms and resource allocations.

NICKOY D. WILSON