Addressing Poverty and Homelessness is Central to an Equity-Focused Response to Climate Change: Considering Canada as an Example

Abstract

People experiencing poverty are highly exposed to climatic events due to multiple intersecting factors. This commentary centres on poverty, generally, and homelessness, specifically in considering the impacts of climate change on health equity in Canada. We propose prioritizing poverty reduction and prevention over emergency response through measures such as universal basic income and enhanced housing standards. Such work can be grounded in inclusive assessments of risks and leveraged interventions, Indigenous leadership, intersectoral collaboration, and community engagement. We argue that it is essential that we move beyond the current, broad awareness of climate change as a threat multiplier with an emphasis on individual responsibility and the “othering” of people experiencing poverty. What is needed is a clear, systems-focused action fundamentally different from the pace and nature of the work done to date.