Dear Editor,

The effects of climate change are real.

Its effects are 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 impact 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 impact it has on this community is scant.

A pilot research on climate change and LGBTQ+ Jamaicans examining the perceptions, attitudes, behaviour, and impact, commissioned by Equality For All Foundation, suggests that income is centrally linked to the quality of life, job, housing security, social rank, and access as well as pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours of LGBTQ+ Jamaicans. Due to this link, LGBTQ+ 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 for which 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 LGBTQ+ community in Jamaica. This is the 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 LGBTQ+ Jamaicans in the event of a natural disaster, thereby leaving members of the community exposed.

LGBTQ+ 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.

Nickoy D Wilson

Equality For All Foundation Jamaica Limited

nickoy@equalityjamica.org