Climate gentrification is a result of climate migration, changes in populations due to environmental changes caused by climate change, in which certain lower-socioeconomic communities are displaced place of housing for more wealthy communities. Areas affected by this phenomenon are typically coastal cities, islands, and other vulnerable areas that are susceptible to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other climate-related disasters.
Gentrification is a process of economic displacement whereby areas of lower socioeconomic status get upscaled and changed by wealthier people moving in, increasing the cost of living and displacing lower class citizens. The climate crisis continues to threaten communities globally, a new form of gentrification has been established known as climate gentrification. One example of a community affected by climate gentrification took place in Coastal communities in Florida. An article about this states, "Historically, wealthier populations have owned highly desirable waterfront properties and lower income populations have lived on the 'less desirable' land inland and at higher elevation from the coast". Waterfront properties are now experiencing an increased risk of flooding due to sea level rise, storm surge, heavier precipitation and stronger hurricane-force winds during landfall."
History
Historically, these vulnerable areas located within close proximity to the seas and beaches excluded marginalized groups and thus are mainly populated by wealthier communities. This process, however, has now been reversed as the fear of climate change has pushed these marginalized communities, displacing them to the areas they have been traditionally excluded from. Primarily, this widespread displacement of lower income groups can be accredited to the lure of higher ground that has become increasingly prioritized by cities, specifically those located on the coasts. The constant threat of the need to evacuate from extreme weather and rising sea levels has pushed the wealthier community's investments into higher ground, simultaneously taking advantage of the cheaper property values.
Causes
There are a series of factors that contribute to climate gentrification in regions across the world. A combination of urbanization and rapid population growth in coastal and wetland areas driven by economic, cultural, and environmental factors increase the number of individuals exposed to increased flooding. There are multiple types of displacement that occur for different reasons. Direct displacement is due to high rent prices that residents can no longer afford. Indirect displacement or exclusionary displacement occurs when the high prices are a barrier to low income to get into the neighbourhood. Lastly, cultural displacement occurs when the residents of the neighbourhood no longer have an affinity or sense of belonging to the place they once called home.
As high income households move out of coastal areas, the lurking issues of the climate crisis are pushing people inward. This can be seen through natural disaster events throughout history, specifically hurricanes. Climate-related disasters in 2018 alone displaced more than 1.2 million people. Researchers have since concluded that hurricane damage was positively associated with the likelihood of a New Orleans neighbourhood having gentrified 10 years after Katrina.
Ultimately, it has been proven that natural disasters have paved the way for climate gentrifications but other factors also contribute. Projects that promote neighbourhood rejuvenation have adverse effects. The High Line in New York City, the 606 in Chicago, and the Atlanta BeltLine have prompted similar concerns of accelerated gentrification by bringing attention to the neighbourhoods.