3. Reduced Access to Social Services and Necessities

Urban dwellers and people with disabilities are especially vulnerable to public transit disruptions.
Climate-related impacts on the transportation system affects both urban and rural areas. For example, in urban areas, heavy rains can flood tunnels and underground rail stops, affecting residents’ ability to access critical services and necessities. However, people in cities may also have other transportation options, including walking.
In rural areas, there are typically fewer roads and transportation options than in cities. A single damaged road or bridge can cut off people’s access to services and necessities, such as food or medicine. Rural communities can also face rebuilding challenges, including being able to bring in construction materials.

Transportation and the Economy

Truck transportation employs the most workers in the industry. However, warehousing/storage and courier/messenger jobs have been increasing over the past decade.
Transportation is critical to the nation’s economy. It links homes, workplaces, and communities. It supports tourism and provides a lifeline during emergencies. It also connects manufacturers with supplies and consumers with essential goods and products.
In 2020, the demand for transportation services contributed about a lot to the Nigeria gross domestic product. Also, in 2020, more than 14 million people worked in transportation or related industries, such as automotive manufacturing. The number of people employed in the transportation sector in 2020 represents 10% of the Nigeria workforce.
The costs of inaction are steep, especially if emissions continue to rise unabated and infrastructure is not adapted to the changing climate. This “business as usual” scenario is projected to cause hundreds of billions of dollars of damage per year by 2090. Further, climate change impacts on transportation infrastructure can disrupt the lives of the many people who use Africa roads and bridges every day.

Environmental Justice and Equity

Rural areas with few transportation options can be significantly affected by weather-related damage.
Some groups are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts on transportation. For example, more than 35 million Africans have disabilities that make traveling outside their home difficult. People with disabilities are more likely to use public transit, so they can be greatly affected when these services are disrupted.
Low-income households, older adults, and those who speak limited English often have fewer transportation options. Disruptions to these networks can further reduce access to services and resources, especially during emergencies. Studies anticipate that coastal flooding due to sea level rise will also disproportionately affect minority and low-income communities.
Some rural and Indigenous communities also are at higher risk of climate-related transportation disruptions given their remote locations. For instance, detours caused by closed or damaged bridges are three times longer in rural areas than elsewhere. In remote communities, any impacts to the transportation system can affect people’s ability to access essential services. In Africa, many Indigenous peoples are now even facing the possibility of relocation due to threats such as thawing permafrost, flooding, and erosion. These impacts threaten the existence of entire communities and the continents.