Climate Gentrification

Climate gentrification is a subset of climate migration, in which certain lower-socioeconomic communities are displaced in place of housing for more wealthy communities. Areas affected by this phenomenon are typically coastal cities, islands, and other vulnerable areas that are susceptible to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other climate-related disasters.

Origin and Etymology

Gentrification is a process of economic displacement whereby areas of lower socioeconomic status get up-scaled and changed by wealthier people moving in, increasing the cost of living, and ultimately displacing lower class residents. As the climate crisis continues to displace communities globally, a new form of gentrification has been established known as climate gentrification.

Causes

There are a series of factors that contribute to climate gentrification in regions across the world.

Economic Inequality

Historically, vulnerable areas located within close proximity to the seas and beaches excluded marginalized groups and thus are mainly populated by wealthier communities. In recent times, this been reversed as the fear of climate change has caused wealthy communities to move inland. Primarily, this widespread displacement of lower income groups can be accredited to the lure of higher ground that has become increasingly prioritized by cities, specifically those located on the coasts. The constant threat of the need to evacuate from extreme weather and rising sea levels has pushed the wealthier community's investments into higher ground, simultaneously taking advantage of the cheaper property values.

Urbanization

A combination of urbanization and rapid population growth in coastal and wetland areas driven by economic, cultural, and environmental factors increase the number of individuals exposed to increased flooding. As high income households move out of coastal areas, the lurking issues of the climate crisis are pushing people inward.

Natural Disaster

This can be seen through natural disaster events throughout history, specifically hurricanes. Climate-related disasters in 2018 alone displaced more than 1.2 million people.

Effects

Economic Effects

Climate gentrification causes low-income and minority communities are bearing a disproportionate social and economic burden. As wealthier home owners move towards higher elevations due to rising sea levels, the cost of living increases and longtime low-income residents are displaced. This is evidenced by the fact that real estate in elevated regions of Miami has appreciated at a higher rate than anywhere else in the country. More than 30 million people were globally displaced in 2020, 98% due to weather and climate hazards. The effects of these extreme weather events can result in developers taking advantage of lower property prices and investing in expensive projects that cater to wealthier homeowners. Once homes are destroyed and new, more expensive structures are created, low-income residents searching for new accommodations are forced to leave their communities.

Social Effects

Socially, impacts of this migration can be the loss of community identity and cultural disruption, as these areas are facing large chunks of demographic turnover. Long time residents are suffering from a loss of community, as many have watched friends and family forced out by wealthy strangers, and their culture is ebbing away as the sea level rises. The effects of gentrification can be immediate in under-resourced communities, and the cycle of forcing people out of their homes will continue as climate change, and gentrification, worsen.

References

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Effects of climate change
Environmental issues