Report reveals Black communities in the Southeast face increased risk from extreme weather.

According to a report from McKinsey & Company, Black people living in the Southeastern United States are more likely to face the adverse effects of climate change-related severe weather events than those living in other areas. Titled “Impacts of Climate Change on Black Populations in the United States”, the report examines how extreme weather affects Black individuals and communities.

The report states that many Black people in the United States are concentrated in the Southeastern United States, along the Gulf Coast region stretching from Texas to Florida, Maryland, and Virginia. This puts them at greater risk of physical-hazard exposure due to extreme weather conditions. In addition, climate change-related issues such as food deserts and income inequality are likely to worsen as the situation progresses.

Further, the report also reveals that the western United States, where areas map at least 50% Black, Indigenous American, or Latine, experiences a 50% greater vulnerability to wildfires than predominantly white populations. In the Southwestern and Southeastern United States, temperatures are more likely to reach extreme high levels, which affects Black and Latine workers by reducing their working hours and increasing their absenteeism from work.

Moreover, the South, East, and Southeastern United States, where Black populations are more densely concentrated, face the greatest risk of hurricanes. The report states that Black communities in these areas are 1.8 times more likely than the overall US population in the same area to experience hurricanes. The expected storm damage to Black-owned property is expected to double by 2050, with an increased risk of flooding directly linked to historically redlined areas in cities like Baltimore.

The report recommends that both private and public sectors should work towards understanding the impact of climate risk on Black workers, business owners, and residents and make timely adaptations to build resilience. This could help close racial gaps, enable equitable access to climate finance opportunities, and ultimately, help Black individuals and communities survive and thrive in the face of climate change.

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