Climate and inequality: the other side of the European crisis

Although climate change is often discussed in terms of the disproportionate impacts between the Global South and the Global North, inequalities in climate vulnerability also exist within countries. Different population groups and geographical areas experience climate impacts in very different ways. Even high-income countries in Europe are not immune to climate change. For example, record-breaking heat during the summer of 2024 is estimated to have caused more than 62,775 deaths across Europe, with Italy recording the highest heat-related mortality—19,038 deaths—compared with 6,743 deaths in Spain, the second most affected country that summer (Janoš et al. 2025). Italy’s high heat-related mortality likely reflects several intersecting factors: its location in the Mediterranean climate hotspot, which is warming faster than other parts of Europe; its large elderly population; dense urban areas; and an aging housing stock with limited insulation and ventilation.

Older populations are particularly susceptible to extreme temperatures, but heat-related mortality is also strongly linked to socioeconomic inequality. People with lower incomes often struggle to access adequate housing and may live in overcrowded or poorly ventilated homes that provide little protection from extreme heat. As heatwaves across Europe become hotter, longer, and more frequent, effective responses require not only strengthening health systems to cope with increased hospitalizations but also ensuring that public health campaigns, cooling shelters, and urban green spaces reach the most vulnerable groups.

Not just heat: the economic burden of the climate crisis

Heatwaves are not the only visible consequences of climate change in Europe. Recent events—including Cyclone Harry in Sicily in early 2026, floods in Valencia, Spain in late 2025, and persistent droughts across the Mediterranean region—have all been linked to anthropogenic climate change. These impacts extend far beyond mortality, disrupting livelihoods and generating significant economic losses. Between 1980 and 2024, economic damages from weather- and climate-related extremes in the European Union are estimated to have reached €822 billion (in 2024 prices), with floods accounting for 47% of total losses. Southern European regions—particularly in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, and southern France—have been especially affected. Italy alone is projected to experience €11.9 billion in losses in 2025, rising to €34.2 billion by 2029 (Usman et al. 2025).

Territorial disparities and internal migration

Within Italy, structural socioeconomic differences contribute to uneven vulnerability. Southern regions are characterized by higher unemployment rates, lower educational attainment, and historically lower levels of economic investment, creating regional disparities in social vulnerability and adaptive capacity (Frigerio et al. 2018). These inequalities shape how communities respond when climate hazards occur. Economic opportunities, infrastructure quality, and access to resources influence whether people can adapt locally—or whether they may turn to migration as a strategy for coping with environmental stress.

Indeed, my recent research shows that climate-driven migration is not limited to low- and middle-income countries but is also observable in high-income contexts such as Italy. The study finds that provinces affected by drought tend to experience higher out-migration in the following year (Karabulutoğlu et al. 2026). Those most likely to migrate are foreign-born men, followed by foreign-born women, with migration rates higher than those of Italian natives. However, drought-related migration does not occur uniformly across regions. Instead, it is concentrated in middle-income provinces. We do not observe similar out-migration from the poorest or the richest regions. This likely reflects differences in resources: households in poorer areas may lack the financial or social means to move, while those in wealthier regions may have greater capacity to adapt locally or rely on economic sectors less sensitive to climatic conditions. These findings suggest that as climate change intensifies, migration linked to environmental stress may become an increasingly important policy issue even in high-income countries. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated policies that combine climate adaptation, regional development, and migration management.

Addressing the roots of climate inequality

Finally, understanding the root causes of climate inequalities requires examining how demographic and socioeconomic characteristics interact to shape vulnerability. Gender provides a useful example. Promoting gender equality has intrinsic value, but it also plays a crucial role in reducing climate vulnerability. Ensuring equal access to education, economic opportunities, healthcare, political participation, and technology strengthens resilience for entire communities. However, policies should focus on the structural conditions underlying vulnerability, rather than attributing risk to a single social category. If women are more vulnerable to climate impacts because they lack land ownership rights in certain countries, legal reforms ensuring equal rights are essential. But if vulnerability stems from poverty or limited economic opportunities, then policy interventions should address those broader inequalities, benefiting all disadvantaged groups.

Effective climate policies must therefore move beyond narrow categorizations and adopt a holistic approach to vulnerability, recognizing that climate risks emerge from the interaction of demographic, social, and economic factors. As climate change accelerates, understanding these layered inequalities will be critical for designing policies that protect vulnerable populations and strengthen societies’ ability to adapt.