Beverly H. Wright
Dillard UniversityA Sociological Perspective on Global Climate Change: Equal Protection, a Challenge for the FutureWhat do we know? What does Sociology bring to the table?
There is now overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is “real” and poses a serious global threat
that cannot be ignored. Research has shown unequivocal evidence of the warming of the climate system,
observing increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and
rising global average sea level. We also know the causes of climate change and the extent of the relationship
between concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols, land cover and solar radiation, and changes
in atmospheric concentrations that alter the energy balance of the climate system. Human activity has increased
global GHG emissions since pre-industrial times and has increased 70% between 1970 and 2004.
We are also able to project a continuation of climate change due to global GHG emissions over the next
few decades and can expect its impacts to continue even with current climate change mitigation policies and
related sustainable development practices. It is expected that GHG emissions will continue at or above current
rates, cause further warming, and induce many changes in the global climate system in this century greater than
what we have observed in previous centuries.
We know that societies have always had to manage the impacts of weather and climate related events.
We also know that adaptation options are numerous and diverse, but much more is needed to reduce vulnerability
to climate change. As sociologists, this is where our work begins. How do we protect the most vulnerable in this
climate change battle? It is of course, evident that vulnerability to climate change can be exacerbated by other
stressor; Katrina was a perfect example. Racial minorities, the poor, the elderly, the sick, and children were left
behind. Poverty and unequal access to resources, food insecurity trends in economic globalization, conflict and
incidence of disease such as HIV/AIDS are identified by the most recent report of the Inter-governmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC). According to the report, adaptive capacity is intimately connected to social and economic
development but is unevenly distributed across and within societies. This is the greatest challenge for societies
and poses the greatest challenge for sociological researchers. How do we answer the call for protection for all?
Katrina and its impacts, in a very powerful and revealing way, showed the world how race and class are
intrinsically tied to policy. Moreover, it pointedly displayed how government policy can actually be harmful to the
health and well being of vulnerable populations (i.e. racial minorities, the poor, sick and elderly, and children).
What single occurrence in the United States stands as a prototype of what is happening globally in
response to extreme weather change? The poor and minorities will suffer more and bear the greatest burden of
climate change impacts although they contribute less to its causes.
What do we need to know? What are the major sociological research questions?
Climate Change is a global phenomenon and presents problems for the world. For that reason, the response must
be international. There are many policy options available to government to create the incentive to mitigate actions
related to climate. However, climate change policy must take into consideration race and class impacts.