Climate change’s toll on the health of Black communities

By Megan SaylesAFRO Business Writermsayles@afro.com It’s not difficult for people to observe the influence climate change has had on the planet, whether through extreme weather, wildfires, droughts, melting glaciers or rising sea levels. But, its impact on communities’ health may not be as easily detected.& Maija Anderson is the chair of Morgan State University’s Department of Nursing. She encouraged people to stay hydrated and avoid exercising outside during intense heat. (Photo courtesy of Morgan State University) Lorece Edwards is a public health professor at Morgan State University. She explained that redlining has contributed to Black communities living in areas with extreme temperatures. (Photo courtesy of Morgan State University)Black communities, in particular, are especially vulnerable to environmental hazards generated and exacerbated by climate change. According to a 2023 study from McKinsey and Company, African Americans are 1.4 times more likely than their counterparts to be exposed to extreme heat.& This not only has implications for their physical health but also their finances, as the report notes extreme heat can prevent people from attending work.In part, the reason for this increased exposure rests in historical and systemic practices, like redlining.& “Heat and heat-related conditions impact people in different ways based on the...