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The Queer community have always been <\/span>active in climate justic<\/span><\/span>e <\/span>becau<\/span><\/span>se, as<\/span>\u00a0the photograph says, \u201cThere is no pride on a dead <\/em><\/span>planet<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/em>.<\/span> The intersectionality <\/span>is often forgotten as <\/span>we find companies that <\/span>put out rainbow<\/span> logos for <\/span>February<\/span> or June <\/span>for <\/span>better <\/span>PR<\/span> and <\/span>call it a day<\/span>. <\/span>But b<\/span>ehind th<\/span>is<\/span> rainbow\u00a0<\/span>fa\u00e7ade,<\/span> they still <\/span><\/span>support<\/span><\/span><\/a> anti-LGBTQ<\/span>+ rhetoric<\/span> and <\/span>fund<\/span> unsustainable fuel industries<\/span>. Climate activists and <\/span>social justice advocates bring these to <\/span>light,<\/span> and we can ensure <\/span>there is change by staying aware and signing petitions that work with what we believe (such as this People and Planet petition calling on Pride to divest and reject sponsorship from Barclays<\/a><\/span><\/span>).<\/span> Queer environmentalists have stood resilient in the <\/span>fight<\/span> for climate change, not just because they bear a worse brunt of it, but because they <\/span>have <\/span>a strong sense<\/span> of community <\/span>hardened by the <\/span>status quo and <\/span>supported by <\/span>ideals of equality and justice, which echoes and aligns with the fight for our planet.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While most of us have the privilege of living in a dry, sheltered house, much of the world\u2019s <\/span>marginalised <\/span>population faces the <\/span>harshness<\/span> of climate change. The <\/span><\/span>United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction Program<\/span><\/span><\/a> classifies LGBTQ+ communities as \u201chyper-marginalised\u201d and says they are increasingly vulnerable to calamities. Vulnerable members of society<\/span> on<\/span> the<\/span> ot<\/span>he<\/span>r side of<\/span> the <\/span>world<\/span>, like the <\/span><\/span>Hijra<\/span><\/span><\/a> -\u201c<\/span>Third Gender\u201d- community in South Asia, also face social stigmatisation and <\/span>are often unemployed and homeless as a result. Climate change<\/span> has severely changed weather patterns<\/span> across the globe,<\/span> with an increased number of natural disasters,<\/span> landslides<\/span>, and<\/span> floods<\/span>, which<\/span> have <\/span>disastrous <\/span><\/span>impacts<\/span><\/span><\/a> on the<\/span>se<\/span> communit<\/span>ies.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Amnesty International is a Human <\/span>R<\/span>ight<\/span>s<\/span> advocating,<\/span> non-governmental <\/span>organisation<\/span>,<\/span> and at our university, the society, Amnesty International, <\/span>represents<\/span> the values of the NGO. Speaking to the committee and its members<\/span>, they<\/span> stressed <\/span>the need for all<\/em> activists, advocates and people who care to come together. <\/span>Often, the \u201cprivileged\u201d are seen as the face of this issue. Still, it\u2019s<\/span> the more marginalised and more affected parts of the population like, <\/span><\/span>ethnic <\/span>minorities<\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/span>wo<\/span>m<\/span>en<\/span><\/span><\/a>,<\/span> and the LGBTQ+ community, whose voices need to be amplified. <\/span>Climate action needs to be an inclusive space<\/span>.<\/span> An inclusive space for climate action that supports and works with <\/span>all members of society.<\/span> D<\/span>espite the diversity of opinions that could exist, it would be hard to argue that there is <\/span>a <\/span>progression in <\/span>how<\/span> the <\/span>climate <\/span>is today compared<\/span> to<\/span> 10 years ago. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A <\/span>committee<\/span> member says \u201c<\/span>Unfortunately, this progression isn\u2019t towards the better, with <\/span>the extremes <\/span>of weather <\/span>worsening<\/span> from <\/span>severe<\/span> heatwaves to frostbite-worthy dips.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n While large aspects of climate and social justice issues require <\/span>institutionalised<\/span> and society-wide change to make meaningful and lasting change, there are still small ways we can help turn the <\/span>tide<\/span>. <\/span>Climate ch<\/span>a<\/span>nge is <\/span>fuelled<\/span> by the inequalities we have in our world, from large corporations that not only <\/span>widen <\/span>the <\/span>world's <\/span>wea<\/span>l<\/span>th gap but also <\/span>promote division in society for profit. These corporations often contribute the largest to carbon emissions <\/span>by<\/span> adding fuel <\/span>to<\/span> our burning planet.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n However<\/span>,<\/span> not all hope is lost<\/span>; just<\/span> a little chat with your flat mates, making sure everyone is aware of where their money goes<\/span>,<\/span> and small acts like<\/span> The vulnerability of marginalised communities to climate change<\/h2>\n
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I<\/span>f we look<\/span> just at <\/span>the UK, <\/span><\/span>24%<\/span><\/span><\/a> of <\/span>people who are <\/span>homeless are LGBTQ+. Consider <\/span>their<\/span> vulnerability coupled with living <\/span>on the streets<\/span>,<\/span> exposed to<\/span> the mercy of <\/span>ruthless rains, <\/span>freezing winters <\/span>and<\/span> scorching <\/span>heatwaves<\/span>.<\/span> T<\/span>h<\/span>e harshness of the weather <\/span>we complain about<\/span>,<\/span> even when <\/span>we\u2019re<\/span> indoors<\/span>. And we know from scientists that climate change will result in more extreme weather patterns. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe importance of inclusivity and diversity<\/h2>\n
How small actions can help tackle climate change and promote social justice<\/h2>\n