XR King’s Lynn has this week proudly donated £250 to the King’s Lynn Night Shelter, supporting their invaluable work with some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
This donation was made possible by the generous contributions of our local Extinction Rebellion supporters, who recognise that the fight for climate justice extends far beyond polar bears and rainforests. It’s about people, near and far.
The human cost of climate and nature breakdown is already being felt today around the world and in the UK. The links between climate change and homelessness may not be immediately obvious, but the effects of fossil fuels are increasing the risks of extreme weather such as flooding and heatwaves. This affects everyone, but is felt most sharply by those in already vulnerable or precarious positions. Geographer Neil Smith wrote “Natural disasters don’t simply flatten landscapes, washing them smooth. Rather they deepen and erode the ruts of social difference they encounter.”
The housing crisis and the climate crisis are entangled, each feeding into the other. Rising energy costs – driven by dependence on fossil fuels – are forcing households to make impossible choices between keeping the lights on or keeping up with rent. And for people already without stable housing, extreme weather events are no longer rare catastrophes but ongoing threats.
The chief executive of Shelter, Polly Neate, said to the Guardian “It’s clear the climate emergency is only making the housing emergency worse. Already, people who are sleeping rough are feeling the awful effects of flooding and heatwaves, while the fossil fuel energy price hike means many people are having to choose between heating their homes or paying their rent.”
Climate action cannot happen in isolation; it must be tied to social justice, ensuring that those most affected by climate change and systemic inequality are not left behind. When we come together to support local organisations like the King’s Lynn Night Shelter, we’re not just offering temporary relief – we’re taking a stand for a future where both people and the planet can thrive. Together, we’re building a movement that understands: environmental and social justice are inseparable, and the time to act is now.
