How will the climate and nature crises impact people from ethnic minority communities?

People from ethnic minority communities in Britain are, on average, more affected by the climate and nature crises than White British people due to profound societal inequity.

This briefing, published jointly with the Race Equality Foundation, shows how the impact upon physical and mental health is the most evidenced but that there is also evidence of impact on income, skills, and jobs:

• People from ethnic minority communities in low-income households and those already experiencing health inequalities are the most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate and nature crises – particularly through poorly adapted housing, air pollution, and lack of access to green spaces.
• The impact of policies on people from ethnic minority communities is mixed. Some policies, like those targeting fuel poverty, insulation, and air pollution have brought benefits. But this is likely because people from ethnic minority communities are most likely to experience fuel poverty and live in polluted areas in the first place. The evidence suggests people from ethnic minority communities have been less likely to benefit from policies on electric vehicles and solar panels but are more likely to want green jobs and to start cycling.

Those affected will likely include people supported by charities and other civil society organisations. We’re therefore encouraging charities and their funders to better understand the impacts of the changing environment on the communities they serve and what they need to change to support people through the green transition.

There are significant gaps in evaluations of the impact of national government policies on people from ethnic minority communities – particularly on policies to make places greener and help people access nature. The environmental crises are human crises, yet this review suggests the UK government needs to do more to assess the impact of their policies on people from ethnic minority communities, particularly people on lower incomes. With a stronger focus on these impacts, the government has a much better chance of achieving their environmental goals and making sure everyone enjoys the benefits of a healthier environment.