As global temperatures rise and weather patterns grow increasingly unpredictable, climate change presents a collective challenge. Yet, not all communities experience these challenges equally. Among the most vulnerable are transgender and gender non-conforming (GNC) individuals, who, due to deep-rooted socio-economic inequalities, face disproportionate risks from the impacts of climate change. In Jamaica, the marginalisation of these groups — evident in employment discrimination, housing insecurity, and social exclusion — intensifies their vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. This intersection of social and environmental injustice demands urgent attention and targeted action.

The Intersection of Marginalisation and Climate Vulnerability

Climate change is often labelled as a universal threat, but the reality is starkly different for marginalised communities. Trans and GNC individuals in Jamaica are particularly exposed to these compounded risks due to the socio-economic inequalities that define their daily lives. As TransWave Jamaica’s Economic Survivability Study (2020) points out, unemployment and underemployment are disproportionately high among trans people, with over 50 per cent of trans individuals reporting joblessness due to pervasive discrimination in the workplace. The exclusion from formal employment forces many into unstable and unsafe informal economies, such as sex work, exacerbating their socio-economic precariousness.

This financial instability leaves many transgender individuals without the means to secure climate-resilient housing or the resources to recover from extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves. The economic precarity of trans and GNC people is a key driver of their heightened vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, leaving them less able to afford necessary adaptive measures such as relocating from disaster-prone areas, reinforcing their exposure to climate hazards.

Housing Insecurity and Climate Risks: The Vulnerability of Gully Living

Housing is a fundamental factor in climate resilience, yet many transgender individuals in Jamaica face chronic housing insecurity. The Economic Survivability Study found that housing instability is a major issue, with many trans people experiencing frequent evictions due to discrimination from landlords or rejection from their families. The lack of housing options forces some to live in highly precarious environments, including the infamous gullies of New Kingston.

Living in the gullies presents unique risks for trans and GNC individuals, especially as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms and floods. These open drainage systems are already hazardous, exposing inhabitants to unsanitary conditions, violence, and flooding risks. As climate-related disasters like hurricanes become more frequent and severe, those living in the gullies are particularly vulnerable. The threat of flash floods, combined with inadequate infrastructure, places gully dwellers at extreme risk of injury, displacement, and death. Moreover, the lack of adequate public policies addressing inclusive housing for trans people means that many, when displaced by these disasters, have few places to turn to for shelter.

Emergency shelters, designed to offer protection during natural disasters, often fail to accommodate the needs of trans and GNC individuals. Shelters are frequently gender-segregated, with many trans people fearing violence or discrimination if they seek refuge in these spaces. The absence of inclusive shelter policies forces many to choose between unsafe shelter conditions or braving the elements in the open, exacerbating both physical and mental health risks during and after climate-related disasters.

Health Disparities Exacerbated

Climate change also magnifies health disparities within the transgender community. Access to health care in Jamaica is already challenging for trans individuals due to systemic discrimination in the health-care system. This is compounded by the scarcity of gender-affirming care, with many trans people unable to access necessary hormone treatments or medical services.

Extreme weather events disrupt health-care systems, making it even harder for trans individuals to receive vital care. Hurricanes and floods often result in power outages, damaged infrastructure, and reduced health-care access, placing transgender individuals who rely on consistent medical treatments at heightened risk. For those living in the gullies or other informal settlements, accessing emergency health care is even more difficult due to their geographic and social marginalisation.

The mental health impacts of climate change on trans and GNC individuals cannot be overlooked either. The trauma of being displaced by climate disasters, compounded by the constant stress of societal discrimination, can lead to significant mental health crises. TransWave’s study found high levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation within the community, conditions that are often exacerbated by the additional pressures of climate vulnerability. Unfortunately, mental health services in Jamaica remain largely inaccessible to many trans people, leaving them without adequate support to cope with the combined burdens of climate stress and socio-economic marginalisation.

Policy Implications: Inclusive Climate Action and Social Justice

Addressing the climate vulnerability of trans and GNC communities in Jamaica requires a multifaceted, intersectional approach that integrates both climate adaptation and social justice. Policies must prioritise the specific needs of these communities, acknowledging the ways in which socio-economic inequalities deepen their exposure to climate risks.

First and foremost, there is a pressing need to develop inclusive housing policies that provide safe and affordable accommodations for trans individuals, both during and after climate-related disasters. Emergency shelters must be reformed to accommodate trans and GNC people, ensuring that they are not subjected to violence or discrimination when seeking refuge from natural disasters.

Additionally, health-care services – both physical and mental – must be made more accessible to trans individuals, especially in the aftermath of climate events. Ensuring continuity of care, particularly for those undergoing hormone treatment or gender-affirming procedures, is crucial for their overall well-being. Mental health services also need to be expanded to provide support for trans people dealing with the compounded stresses of climate vulnerability and societal discrimination.

Economic empowerment programmes tailored to the needs of transgender and GNC individuals can help reduce their socio-economic vulnerabilities, offering a pathway out of poverty and enhancing their resilience to climate shocks. Vocational training, job placement services, and anti-discrimination laws are essential in breaking the cycle of economic exclusion that leaves many trans people at the mercy of climate hazards.

The impact of climate change is universal, but their effects are not experienced equally. For Jamaica’s transgender and GNC communities, the socio-economic inequalities they face amplify their vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. To build a resilient future for all, it is imperative that climate action is not only intersectional but inclusive of the most marginalised.

By addressing the socio-economic disparities that expose trans people to the harshest impacts of climate change, Jamaica can move towards a more just and equitable society – one in which everyone has the right to live with dignity, safety, and security.

Lamar Grant is a policy and advocacy specialist at TransWave Jamaica. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lamar@transwaveja.org.