Population Specific Summaries

Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the United States

The impacts of climate change will not be distributed equally across the U.S. population. Those who are already vulnerable due to a range of social, economic, historical, and political factors have a lower capacity to prepare for, cope with, and recover from climate change impacts. Understanding the comparative risks to vulnerable populations is critical for developing effective and equitable strategies for responding to climate change. The following documents summarize results for specific socially vulnerable populations in the U.S.

From report: EPA. 2021. Climate Change and Social Vulnerability in the United States: A Focus on Six Impacts. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 430-R-21-003.

• Findings on Disproportionate Risks of Climate Change to Black and African American Individuals (pdf) (259.83 KB)
• Findings on Disproportionate Risks of Climate Change to American Indian and Alaska Native Individuals (pdf) (278.67 KB)
• Findings on Disproportionate Risks of Climate Change to Hispanic and Latino Individuals (pdf) (254.1 KB)
• Findings on Disproportionate Risks of Climate Change to Low Income Individuals (pdf) (265.48 KB)
• Findings on Disproportionate Risks of Climate Change to Asian Individuals and Pacific Islanders (pdf) (253.31 KB)