A recent report from the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) underscores the severe and disproportionate impacts of the fossil fuel industry on Black, Indigenous, and Latine women across North America. The comprehensive analysis, which consolidates existing research, identifies significant health, environmental, and social issues tied to fossil fuel extraction and related activities.

The report, authored by Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of WECAN, details the adverse effects experienced by these communities due to the fossil fuel industry’s practices. It emphasizes the urgent need for systemic change and the implementation of a just transition that prioritizes the needs of the most affected communities.

Key Findings

The WECAN report identifies nine regions frequently affected by fossil fuel extraction, including the Gulf Coast, which serves as a primary focus for further research. The report highlights six major issues linked to the fossil fuel industry’s impact on women of color: environmental racism, increased caretaking responsibilities, pollution, fertility and reproductive health impacts, “man camps,” and mental health effects.

The report cites a clear connection between fossil fuel industry operations and deteriorating health, safety, and human rights for Black, Indigenous, Latine, and low-income women. Specifically, it notes that fossil fuel pollution is associated with fertility issues and pregnancy complications, while rising temperatures exacerbate risks such as preterm births, stillbirths, gestational diabetes, and hypertensive disorders.

For instance, research from 2020 indicates that women living within three miles of the Eagle Ford Shale basin in Texas faced a 50% higher risk of preterm births compared to those living further away. Similarly, a 2016 study found that women near active fracking sites in Pennsylvania had a 40% and 30% increased risk of preterm births and high-risk pregnancies, respectively.

Increased Caretaking Responsibilities

The report also highlights how pollution and climate impacts place additional caretaking burdens on women, who are often responsible for managing household tasks and caring for family members. Polluted air and water, combined with the stress of ensuring access to clean food and water, intensify these responsibilities. This additional strain often leads to lost wages and job instability, particularly as mothers are ten times more likely than fathers to take time off work to care for sick children.

Impact of “Man Camps”

The presence of transient worker camps, or “man camps,” associated with oil and gas projects, has been linked to increased rates of sexual violence and assault against women. These camps, primarily occupied by young men, foster hyper-masculine environments that contribute to social isolation, substance abuse, and higher demands for sex trafficking, according to extensive research cited in the report.

Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable, as only 2% of U.S. land is designated as Indigenous reservations, yet these areas hold approximately 20% of the country’s fossil fuel reserves. This situation exacerbates risks associated with man camps and contributes to the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.

Mental Health Effects

The combination of environmental pollution, health impacts, and increased caretaking responsibilities places significant mental health burdens on affected women. The report cites studies from Colorado to Pennsylvania linking oil and gas extraction to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and chronic stress among women living in these regions.

Future Risks and Recommendations

As the fossil fuel industry continues to expand, these impacts are expected to worsen. The International Energy Forum projects a 25% increase in liquefied natural gas trade by 2028, and petrochemical facilities are anticipated to grow in response to rising plastic demand, expected to triple by 2060.

The Gulf Coast, in particular, is leading in liquefied natural gas production and expansion, with several new facilities proposed in Texas. This region also has the highest concentration of petrochemical and oil refinery facilities in the nation. Notably, six of the top ten refineries with excessive cancer-causing benzene levels are located along the Texas Gulf Coast, predominantly in BIPOC communities.

The Pemex Deer Park Refinery in Houston, which is predominantly Latine, has seen its annual emissions rise to 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023—almost double the EPA’s action level. This facility exemplifies the severe health risks posed by the fossil fuel industry in these communities.

Call for Action

In response to these findings, the report calls for a just transition that addresses the needs of the most impacted and vulnerable communities. It also offers recommendations for banking institutions that finance fossil fuel companies, urging them to divest and adhere to human rights standards as outlined by the United Nations and commitments from the Paris Climate Agreement.

“There is an urgent need to address these crises because the lives of women and their communities are at stake,” Orielle Lake emphasized. The report stresses the importance of placing women, in all their diversity, at the center of climate and energy decision-making processes.

The WECAN report serves as a critical reminder of the intersectional impacts of the fossil fuel industry and the urgent need for comprehensive policies that address these disparities and support affected communities.