'Green in the Rainbow' Project: The Climate Emergency and Sexual and Gender Minorities
Throughout 2022 we undertook a research project examining the impacts of the Climate Emergency on sexual and gender minorities, looking in detail at the ways in which their marginalisation makes them vulnerable to climate change.
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery: Together for Our Planet Initiative, ReportOUT are excited to publish our report on this issue, A Crisis of Queer Invisibility: Climate Change as a Risk Multiplier for LGBTQ People
We were motivated to undertake this project having noticed that a consideration of the impact of climate change (Climate Emergency) on sexual and gender minorities is largely absent in mainstream climate discourse.
The aim of the project was therefore to:
Draw some attention to this issue.
By examining the extent to which climate change creates specific and heightened harms for sexual and gender minorities.
Climate discourse has increasingly accepted that certain groups of people are more greatly affected by the climate crisis due to their position in society. We believe that sexual and gender minorities, as one of the most marginalised groups of people, are therefore likely to be severely impacted by the climate emergency.
Why the Climate Emergency?
In its Fifth Assessment Report (2014), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of 1,300 independent scientific experts from countries all over the world, under the auspices of the United Nations, concluded that there is a more than a 95% probability that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet. The devasting effects of the climate emergency are already being felt, and it is clear that without significant action, climate change will have an increasingly catastrophic impact in the coming years.
Whilst we are all affected as humans by the Climate Emergency, we do know that some groups in society are affected by climate change much more than others. It is becoming very clear that marginalised groups, such as sexual and gender minorities, are more likely to be affected by the impacts of the Climate Emergency.
Thorough review of existing literature on this topic - It quickly became clear that there is little existing material on the issue of climate vulnerability on sexual and gender minorities.
Broadened out the review to literature - Including the impacts of climate change generally, the marginalisation of sexual and gender minorities, and the failures of state response to crises.
Creating a picture of the types of harms that sexual and gender minorities may face, why these harms may be heightened due to societal marginalisation, and the position of state mechanisms to adequately respond to the needs of sexual and gender minorities.
Original research - an online survey of self-identifying LGBTQI+ people across the world. This survey aimed to understand the extent to which sexual and gender minorities are:
Aware of the impacts of the Climate Emergency.
The extent that they have experienced these impacts in their lives, and:
What actions they feel should be taken to better protect sexual and gender minorities from these harms.
Our research endorses the concept of climate change as a ‘risk multiplier’. This is the idea that existing vulnerabilities interact with the harms caused by the climate crisis, creating new and heightened harms for sexual and gender minorities, and their communities.
The report documents some of the key drivers of the marginalisation of sexual and gender minorities globally, including criminalisation and discrimination, and considered how they interact with the recorded human impacts of the climate crisis to create heightened risks. The responses to our survey were interwoven into this analysis to demonstrate the present and anticipated ways in which the crisis is manifesting in the lives of sexual and gender minorities.
The report also considered various examples of state failures to address the needs of sexual and gender minorities in crises situations, which compounds the harms that they face.
Project AimThe Green in the Rainbow project is a year-long research project that seeks to highlight the disproportionate and specific effects of the climate emergency on sexual and gender minorities, and to support LGBTQI+ communities to engage with the response to climate change and ensure that their needs are recognised and fulfilled. The project seeks to situate the challenges faced by the LGBTQI+ community, including marginalisation, homelessness, and limited access to specific healthcare needs, within the broader context of the climate emergency. These challenges will be exacerbated by a deteriorating climate where public resources are funnelled towards tackling climate breakdown. In this context sexual and gender minorities may find themselves left behind and marginalised from the response to the emergency.
Project ScopeThis is a project focused mainly on issues in the UK, but it will also include global case studies and stakeholder mapping, recognising that the climate emergency knows no geographic boundaries.
Project OutcomesThe project will consist of three main outcomes: Literature review – we will engage in an extensive review of existing published academic literature, civil society resources, and media reports documenting the impacts of the climate emergency on sexual and gender minorities. We will highlight the key themes within the literature with a particular focus on their relevance for the LGBTQI+ community in the UK. Global outreach – we will engage with international organisations representing and working with sexual and gender minorities to understand and document the impacts that they are already facing, or are expecting to face, in respect of the climate emergency and its effects on human rights and development. UK engagement – we will work with UK-based LGBTQI+ organisations to ascertain their understanding of the climate emergency and its effects on our communities, and their organisational preparedness to tackle these effects and respond to the crisis. Together these outcomes will inform a final report summarising the impact of the climate emergency on LGBTQI+ people in the UK, and containing a set of recommendations for organisations and other stakeholders to implement. The dissemination of these findings will be aided by public workshops to increase awareness of the issues raised. We hope that this project will further the understanding of the effects that climate change will have on the LGBTQI+ community, and help to build an intersectional network to fight for the specific needs of sexual and gender minorities as the crisis worsens.
Our key recommendations include a list of actions to:
Address the marginalisation of sexual and gender minorities.
Address specific climate risk factors which affect sexual and gender minorities.
Improve state crisis management.
Raise awareness, expertise, and resilience.
Decriminalise LGBTQ identities through the removal of laws prohibiting same-sex activity and gender expression
and the equalisation of ages of consent
Provide funding for LGBTQ community projects, centres, and networks to strengthen community ties and reduce
Adopt queer-inclusive disaster preparation policies by engaging with LGBTQ people to understand needs, legislate
to require emergency response plans to consider impacts on LGBTQ people.
We believe that we must engage with the Climate Emergency, now more than ever, to help meet Goal 13: Climate Action, of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
You can read about what our Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Officers are doing at ReportOUT by clicking here
Mradi wa 'Green in the Rainbow': Hali ya dharura ya hali ya hewa na watu wa jinsia ndogo katika 2022 tulifanya mradi wa utafiti wa kuchunguza athari za hali ya dharura ya hali ya hewa kwa watu wa jinsia ndogo, tukitazama kwa undani njia ambazo kutengwa kwao hufanya wao kuwa dhaifu kwa mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. "Kwa msaada wa fedha kutoka kwa Lottery ya Kitaifa: Pamoja kwa Mpango wa Sayari Yetu, ReportOUT inafurahi kuchapisha ripoti yetu juu ya suala hili, ""Mgogoro wa Uonekano wa Queer: Mabadiliko ya Hali ya Hewa kama Multiplier ya Hatari kwa Watu wa LGBTQ.""" Kwa hiyo lengo la mradi huo lilikuwa: Kuvutia uangalifu kwa suala hili. Kwa kuchunguza kiwango ambacho mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanasababisha madhara maalum na yaliyoinuliwa kwa watu wa jinsia ndogo. """Mazungumzo ya hali ya hewa yamekubaliwa zaidi na zaidi kwamba vikundi fulani vya watu huathiriwa zaidi na mgogoro wa hali ya hewa kutokana na nafasi yao katika jamii." """Tunaamini kwamba watu wa jinsia ndogo, kama moja ya makundi ya watu walio chini zaidi, wanaweza kuathiriwa sana na hali ya dharura ya hali ya hewa." Kwa Nini Kuna Hali ya Dharura ya Hali ya Hewa? Katika ripoti yake ya tathmini ya tano (2014), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), kikundi cha wataalamu wa kisayansi wa kujitegemea 1,300 kutoka nchi zote duniani, chini ya udhamini wa Umoja wa Mataifa, ilifikia hitimisho kwamba kuna uwezekano wa zaidi ya 95% kwamba shughuli za binadamu katika miaka 50 iliyopita zimeongeza joto la sayari yetu. Matokeo mabaya ya hali ya dharura ya hali ya hewa tayari yanahisiwa, na ni wazi kwamba bila hatua muhimu, mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yatakuwa na athari mbaya zaidi katika miaka ijayo. Ingawa sisi sote tunaathiriwa na hali ya dharura ya hali ya hewa, tunajua kwamba baadhi ya vikundi katika jamii huathiriwa na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa zaidi kuliko wengine. "Ilikuwa wazi kwamba makundi yaliyopunguzwa, kama vile watu wa jinsia ndogo, yana uwezekano mkubwa wa kuathiriwa na athari za hali ya dharura ya hali ya hewa. """ Kwa kuzingatia makala zilizopo juu ya suala hili, ni muhimu kutambua kwamba kuna habari chache kuhusu mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira ya mazingira. Kuongeza ukaguzi kwa fasihi - Ikiwa ni pamoja na athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kwa ujumla, kutengwa kwa watu wa jinsia na wa jinsia ndogo, na kushindwa kwa majibu ya serikali kwa mgogoro. Kuunda picha ya aina ya madhara ambayo watu wa jinsia ndogo wanaweza kukabili, kwa nini madhara haya yanaweza kuongezeka kwa sababu ya kutengwa na jamii, na nafasi ya mifumo ya serikali ya kukabiliana na mahitaji ya watu wa jinsia ndogo. Utafiti wa awali - uchunguzi wa mtandaoni wa watu wa LGBTQI+ wanaojitambulisha ulimwenguni kote. Utafiti huu ulikusudiwa kuelewa kiwango ambacho watu wa jinsia ndogo na wa jinsia ni: Unajua athari za Dharura ya Hali ya Hewa. """Watu hawa wanajua jinsi wanavyoweza kuathiri maisha yao na wanajua hatua ambazo zinapaswa kuchukuliwa ili kulinda zaidi watu wa jinsia ndogo na wa jinsia ndogo kutokana na madhara haya." Utafiti wetu unathibitisha dhana ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kama "multiplier hatari". "Hii ni wazo kwamba udhaifu uliopo unaingiliana na madhara yanayosababishwa na mgogoro wa hali ya hewa, na kuunda madhara mapya na yaliyoongezeka kwa watu wa jinsia ndogo na jamii zao. """ Ripoti hiyo inaweka nyaraka baadhi ya sababu kuu za kutengwa kwa watu wa jinsia ndogo ulimwenguni, ikiwa ni pamoja na uhalifu na ubaguzi, na inachunguza jinsi wanavyoingiliana na athari za binadamu zilizorekodiwa za mgogoro wa hali ya hewa ili kuunda hatari kubwa. Majibu ya utafiti wetu yaliunganishwa katika uchambuzi huu kuonyesha njia za sasa na zinazotarajiwa ambazo mgogoro unaonekana katika maisha ya watu wa jinsia ndogo. Ripoti hiyo pia ilizingatia mifano mbalimbali ya kushindwa kwa serikali kushughulikia mahitaji ya watu wa jinsia ndogo katika hali za mgogoro, ambayo inaongeza madhara wanayokabili. Mradi wa Green in the Rainbow ni mradi wa utafiti wa mwaka mmoja ambao unatafuta kuangazia athari zisizo na usawa na maalum za dharura ya hali ya hewa kwa watu wa jinsia ndogo na ya kijinsia, na kusaidia jamii za LGBTQI + kushiriki katika majibu ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na kuhakikisha mahitaji yao yanatambuliwa na kutimizwa. Mradi huo unatafuta kuweka changamoto zinazokabiliwa na jamii ya LGBTQI +, pamoja na kutengwa, ukosefu wa makazi, na upatikanaji mdogo wa mahitaji maalum ya huduma za afya, ndani ya muktadha mkubwa wa dharura ya hali ya hewa. Matatizo haya yatazidishwa na hali mbaya ya hali ya hewa ambapo rasilimali za umma zinatumiwa kukabiliana na uharibifu wa hali ya hewa. Katika muktadha huu wa kijinsia na jinsia wachache wanaweza kupata wenyewe kushoto nyuma na marginalized kutoka kwa majibu ya dharura. Mradi huu unazingatia hasa masuala ya Uingereza, lakini pia utajumuisha masomo ya kesi ya kimataifa na ramani ya wadau, ukitambua kwamba dharura ya hali ya hewa haijui mipaka ya kijiografia. """Lakini mradi huu utajumuisha matokeo matatu makuu: ukaguzi wa fasihi - tutajihusisha na ukaguzi mkubwa wa fasihi iliyopo iliyochapishwa ya kitaaluma, rasilimali za jamii ya kiraia, na ripoti za vyombo vya habari zinazoandika athari za dharura ya hali ya hewa kwa watu wa jinsia na wa jinsia." "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""mfano wa msingi wa utafiti huu ni kuelezea umuhimu wa jamii ya LGBTQI+ nchini Uingereza.""" Ufikiaji wa kimataifa: Tutafanya kazi na mashirika ya kimataifa yanayowakilisha na kufanya kazi na watu wa jinsia ndogo ili kuelewa na kuorodhesha athari ambazo tayari wanakabiliwa, au wanatarajia kukabili, kuhusiana na dharura ya hali ya hewa na athari zake kwa haki za binadamu na maendeleo. "Kujumuisha Uingereza: Tutafanya kazi na mashirika ya LGBTQI + ya Uingereza ili kuhakikisha uelewa wao wa dharura ya hali ya hewa na athari zake kwa jamii zetu, na utayari wao wa shirika kukabiliana na athari hizi na kujibu mgogoro. """ Matokeo haya pamoja yatatoa ripoti ya mwisho inayoelezea athari za dharura ya hali ya hewa kwa watu wa LGBTQI + nchini Uingereza, na ikiwa na seti ya mapendekezo kwa mashirika na wadau wengine kutekeleza. Uenezaji wa matokeo haya utasaidiwa na warsha za umma ili kuongeza ufahamu wa masuala yaliyoinuliwa. """Tunatarajia mradi huu utaongeza uelewa wa athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kwa jamii ya LGBTQI+ na kusaidia kujenga mtandao wa kuingiliana ili kupambana na mahitaji maalum ya watu wa jinsia ndogo na ya kijinsia wakati mgogoro unazidi kuwa mbaya." Mapendekezo yetu muhimu ni pamoja na orodha ya hatua kwa ajili ya: Kushughulikia marginalization ya ngono na jinsia wachache. Kushughulikia mambo maalum ya hatari ya hali ya hewa ambayo huathiri watu wachache wa kijinsia na jinsia. Kuboresha usimamizi wa mgogoro wa serikali. Kuongeza ufahamu, utaalam, na upinzani. "Kupunguza uhalifu wa utambulisho wa LGBTQ kwa kuondoa sheria zinazokataza shughuli za jinsia moja na kujieleza kwa jinsia na kulinganisha umri wa idhini, kutoa fedha kwa miradi ya jamii ya LGBTQ, vituo, na mitandao ili kuimarisha uhusiano wa jamii na kupunguza ""kujumuisha"" sera za kujitayarisha kwa majanga kwa kushirikiana na watu wa LGBTQ kuelewa mahitaji, sheria ya kuhitaji mipango ya dharura ya kuzingatia athari kwa watu wa LGBTQ." "Tunaamini kwamba lazima tujihusishe na hali ya dharura ya hali ya hewa, sasa zaidi kuliko hapo awali, kusaidia kufikia Lengo la 13 la ""Kazi ya Hali ya Hewa"" ya Malengo ya Maendeleo Endelevu ya Umoja wa Mataifa." Unaweza kusoma juu ya nini Mfumo wetu wa Uendelezaji wa Maendeleo ya Kudumu (SDG) unafanya katika ReportOUT kwa kubonyeza hapa.