What Pride has to do with the climate crisis
“Inclusion”. You hear that word a lot, and it’s one of our core principles at Good Energy – alongside fair, determined, and straightforward. This Pride Month, we’d like to bring focus to what happens when we don’t consider LGBTQIA+ inclusion in climate policies worldwide.
Barriers to safety during climate displacement
For many people, crossing a border doesn’t always bring safety. And for LGBTQIA+ people – whether fleeing wildfires, floods, or other extreme weather events – the journey to safety is often fraught with additional challenges.
Recent studies indicate that LGBTQIA+ individuals are nearly twice as likely to be displaced after disasters compared to the general population. This heightened vulnerability is compounded by systemic barriers in disaster response and recovery efforts, leading to increased instances of food insecurity, unsanitary conditions and prolonged displacement.
Often facing just as much – if not more – risk in the places they arrive, their experiences often include violence, xenophobia, racism, misogyny, and deeper social isolation. For those that have to work harder to find safe spaces, climate change is yet another enforcement to cope and recover from disasters in new, unexpected, and unfair ways.
Who’s getting left behind in the climate crisis
In shelter environments, LGBTQIA+ individuals report misgendering, lack of privacy, and even physical threats, which leads many to avoid shelters altogether. Denying trans individuals access to bathrooms, showers, and sleeping arrangements that align with their gender identity is a matter of dignity.
Regardless of your political beliefs, the lack of safe arrangements, such as unisex bathrooms and sleeping spaces, is directly correlated to the increased risk of harassment. When LGBTQIA+ people are 3 times more likely to experience homelessness than heterosexual people in the UK alone, this seriously compromises the comfort, health, and hygiene of human beings, alienating them from emergency services.
If a shelter isn’t truly safe, people won’t use it
Imagine standing amid disaster, deciding whether to risk abuse inside or sleep rough outside. That’s the position too many LGBTQIA+ people are forced into. Shelters without clear, inclusive policies – or trained staff who can adequately enforce them – leave safety to chance.
And in a crisis, that’s an unfair responsibility that undermines and scrutinises LGBTQIA+ identities. No one should have to make that choice.
These structural issues are not just harmful – they become life-threatening during climate emergencies. In this way, environmental instability and uncertainty is a disproportionately higher threat for LGBTQIA+ individuals, compounding stress, depression and anxiety which is proven to be more prevalent within this demographic. As climate change continues to increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters, ensuring that emergency services are equipped to support all individuals, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, becomes increasingly critical.
Social justice is environmental justice
There is an intrinsic link between socio-economic issues and environmental issues. If there wasn’t, environmental justice outcomes wouldn’t be so closely linked to different identity aspects. Addressing that connection is crucial. We need to create a future which is sustainable and equitable for all people – not just a select few.
“If we combine social justice efforts with environmental awareness efforts, we will harness enough power, representation, and momentum to have a shot at protecting our planet and creating equity at the same time.” – The Intersectional Environmentalist, Leah Thomas.
Just one example of why Pride matters
For many, June is more than just a celebration; Pride Month holds a spotlight onto how we build systems, write policies, and plan for futures where everyone is seen, supported and safe.
At Good Energy, we’re committed to climate solutions that are not only sustainable, but equitable. Want to see what this looks like in practice? You can read more about Good Energy’s inclusion efforts within our own operations and how we marked Pride 2024 here.
And, if you’d like to support this cause, Outright International’s emergency funds have been a lifeline for LGBTIQ individuals in harm’s way, providing critical resources and support tailored to LGBTIQ individuals’ unique challenges during emergencies.
Sources:
Climate organisations to support this LGBT+ History Month | Good Energy
Forcibly displaced LGBT persons face major challenges in search of safe haven | OHCHR
Climate change-related disasters & the health of LGBTQ+ populations – ScienceDirect
The Intersectional Environmentalist – Leah Thomas.
