Not only does climate change shape our environment but it expands the gap between the wealthy and the poor.

Let’s take Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. There are extremely poor and extremely rich people there, like in any country, without social security system. However, in Jakarta, the poor people are sinking..

The city has been built on the coast. The factories need water (and so do the rich) so they’ve mounted wells that pull water out of the underground lakes and water streams.

When a stream becomes dry, the ground declines. As an effect sea water drowns homes of the poor living just by the sea.

Jakarta is actually digging its own grave. As the sea level rises all the time, there will be time when even the rich can’t keep their socks dry. The city keeps sinking and the water rising and finally there will be no Jakarta anymore.

México City has similar destiny. The city sinks over 10 cm per year.

The story of these cities prove that the climate change is not only about carbon dioxide in the athmosphere. The local phenomenons matter as much.

Kirjoitus on osa Th!nk about it -projektia. The blog entry is part of the Th!nk about it project.