By Carlos Roa, VoLo Foundation
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the legacy and contributions of Latinos in the United States also means facing the pressing challenges confronting this community. Among them, worsening climate events are at the top of the list.
Latino communities are bearing a disproportionate burden from shifting climate patterns, facing greater risks to their health, homes and economic security.
Heat, housing and health risks
Latino neighborhoods are disproportionately exposed to climate hazards, with outdated housing stock lacking modern cooling systems and many residents working in heat-intensive jobs such as agriculture and construction.
The Hispanic Access Foundation notes that “workers in agriculture, construction, utilities, and manufacturing, who are disproportionately Latino, are more vulnerable to heat waves and higher temperatures, leading to lost productivity, increased health care costs, and economic strain.” The organization also highlights that “Latinos are three times more likely to die from heat on the job than non-Latinos.”
This reality has spurred new tools to better track and address disparities. In June, the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute launched the Latino Climate and Health Dashboard, a digital resource offering county-specific data on environmental and health risks. Its findings show that Latino neighborhoods endure 60 extreme heat days a year, 23 more than other areas, while facing twice the exposure to poor air quality and double the asthma-related hospital visits.
Economic vulnerability and homeownership at stake
Climate change not only affects health but also threatens the primary driver of Latino wealth: home ownership. UnidosUS warns that worsening climate events are poised to reduce Hispanic property values, undermining decades of economic progress.
A recent Urban Institute report underscores the scale of the problem: “Latino homeowners face disproportionate exposure to climate risks, bearing higher home value losses and economic burdens across different hazard types. Hispanic homeowners living in communities with disaster risk face $3.1 billion in annual losses from damage to their homes.” The study further adds that “22.8% of Latino homeowners live in high-risk areas, exceeding the 16.1% share of total homeowners.”
Growing awareness builds opportunity
Despite these challenges, Latino awareness of climate change is higher than the national average, reflecting how directly the community experiences its consequences. According to the Chicago Council for Global Affairs, 70% of Hispanic Americans see climate change as a critical threat to the United States, compared with 56% of Americans overall.
Experts argue that this heightened awareness creates an opportunity for Latinos to become leaders in climate solutions. Following an understanding of the situation, they can work with public health experts, academics and government agencies to design policies that mitigate risks and strengthen resilience.
UnidosUS stresses that “promoting Latino homeownership in a warming world will require a robust effort to educate Latino homebuyers about climate risks and to support them in obtaining comprehensive, affordable homeowners insurance.”
Honoring heritage by facing reality
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month goes far beyond honoring history and legacy. It requires addressing the threats that jeopardize Latino futures.
By acknowledging the health, housing and economic risks linked to climate change, communities and policymakers can build the tools needed to help Latino families thrive.
Carlos Roa is senior press and PR director for VoLo Foundation. VoLo Foundation is a financial supporter of The Invading Sea. This piece was originally published at https://volofoundation.org/news/plastic-you-cant-see-damage-you-can-feel. Banner photo: Farmworkers harvest strawberries (iStock image).
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