Climate Change + Birth Outcomes For Black + Indigenous Communities

There’s no doubt that Black and Indigenous Birthing people experience more negative birth outcomes and more complicated pregnancies compared to White people. This is not because of Race but because of the systemic racism in our country, society, and medical system. They are 2-3 times more likely to die during childbirth, and are more likely to experience disrespect from the medical staff at hospitals. Black and Indigenous pregnant people are also less likely to be able to afford good medical care AND have less access in general. 

Racism isn’t the only culprit for these horrible statistics; the other is climate change. 

Women and birthing people who are exposed to high temperatures and air pollution are more likely to experience complications in their pregnancy, their babies are more likely to be underweight or born prematurely, and there are more stillbirths in this population as well.

Because people of color tend to live in areas with more polluting industries (and higher populations), they are more likely to be affected by pollution & poor air quality during their pregnancies. This statement from Catherine Flowers, a field organizer in Houston for Moms Clean Air Force (advocacy group) really stabs me in the heart. She says, “This is a moment of reckoning for racial injustice and health disparities. Doing nothing about air pollution, which so clearly has a greater impact on Black Americans, is racism in action.

Air pollution is just one of the horrible effects of climate change. Increasing temperatures are another factor, and it’s turning into a serious problem for a lot of people.

Think about the South. Extremely hot temperatures, and some people don’t have access to air conditioning for one reason or another. “Four studies found that high temperatures were tied to an increased risk of premature birth ranging from 8.6 percent to 21 percent. Low birth weights were also more common as temperatures rose.” (New York Times) The “Heat Island” effect explains that urban areas tend to be hotter than the surrounding areas because of the increased population and human activity.

There has always been systemic racism in our country, but we NEED to be aware of the negative effects of climate change and global warming - which will continue to get worse unless we take drastic action NOW. Switching to sustainable and renewable energy is one of the easiest actions you can take with one of the biggest impacts on your carbon footprint. My husband is a solar nerd and we are both invested in creating a beautiful, more sustainable future for our (future) children and future generations. 

To learn more about your solar options, click here.