纽约联储-理解美国气候变化与不平等之间的联系-39页_2mb

Climate change disproportionately affects economic inequality in the United States through both physical risks (e.g., extreme weather events, sea-level rise) and transition risks (e.g., shifts to low-carbon economy). This review highlights that impacts are uneven across geography, income, race, and age, with the U.S. Southeast experiencing higher damages due to greater exposure and vulnerability.

Physical risks cause more severe consequences in areas with low-income and minority populations, leading to higher mortality, housing losses, and reduced productivity. Institutional responses, such as insurance and disaster aid, often entrench existing inequalities due to uneven access and pricing.

Transition risks, including labor market disruptions and migration, may increase inequality if jobs and adaptations favor higher-income groups, while policies could be regressive if they disproportionately burden low-income communities.

Key findings include evidence from studies showing that climate damages, adaptation measures, and institutional interventions exacerbate disparities, necessitating reforms to ensure equitable outcomes and address gaps in research.

Future research should focus on indirect effects of credit reallocations, financial market implications, disaster aid allocations, and comparative risks from physical versus transition factors.