As the train pulled into the New Delhi Railway Station, I watched rain splatter against the window — a rare sight for December, typically one of the city's driest months. I pondered how climate change, disrupting weather patterns worldwide, has been leading to evident and unpredictable seasonal shifts. On the platform, a group of trans women stood close together, braving the cold, wet evening. 

It made me wonder — how do vulnerable queer communities face the growing challenges of a changing climate? How do they cope with extreme conditions? Climate change doesn’t discriminate in its occurrence, but its impacts disproportionately burden those already on the fringes of society. India’s queer population, a largely overlooked demographic in policymaking, faces heightened risks from climate change, particularly due to systemic inequalities. Since climate change exacerbates existing inequalities, many queer individuals, particularly those estranged from their families due to societal stigma, face precarious living conditions. The lack of safe housing is common, as is reliance on informal economies that are vulnerable to climate disruptions.

Rising incidents of urban flooding can be particularly difficult for people from the queer community, especially trans individuals, as accessing emergency shelters can be fraught with discrimination. At times they face an outright denial of services or even harassment. Additionally, the queer community often lacks access to financial safety nets, making recovery from climate shocks an uphill battle. A report by Mongabay-India, records the experience of R. Karthika, a trans woman who ran a tea shop in Chennai. Karthika’s stall was swept away when the floods struck the city in 2015. “Everything in my house was washed away,” she remembers. “I wanted to be a food entrepreneur but after the floods, I turned to begging and ritual blessings.”

Research and Data: Gaps in Knowledge

Despite the glaring inequities, research on how climate change impacts queer populations in India is limited. The only data that was easily accessible to me as I delved into the subject was the number of transgender people in Indian states, which dates back to the Census 2011. States such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar, which are highly vulnerable to extreme climate events as per the Cross Dependency Initiative (XDI) study, have a large population of transgender people.

Globally, studies have pointed to how LGBTQ+ individuals face higher risks during extreme weather events. In India, anecdotal evidence suggests similar patterns. Cyclone Amphan, which struck in 2020, devastated the Sundarbans region. Reports from Bangladesh said that transgender communities struggled to access relief due to administrative hurdles and social stigma. Despite the evident need, there is a clear lack of hard data and focused research that could help policymakers address these vulnerabilities.

Efforts ranging from policy reforms (transgender welfare boards) and advisory initiatives — such as the skill development and educational scholarships for the trans community — to judicial recognition, do offer the potential to reshape the landscape for queer communities in India. Yet, these advances often exist in isolation from climate conversations. For climate action to be truly inclusive, climate research must also prioritize intersectionality. How many queer individuals are displaced annually due to climate-related events? What are their specific challenges during recovery? These questions remain unanswered. While conducting background research for this piece, I was disheartened to find no India-specific data on the subject. Equitable climate action must start including those that exist at the intersection of compounding vulnerabilities like queerness, caste and disability.

What Can Be Done?

While organizational interventions are crucial, a broader societal shift is equally important. Climate vulnerability and social equity are intrinsically linked as climate change has multidimensional impacts on communities that are already facing social, economic, health and other vulnerabilities. Often, these communities contribute the least to climate change. In turn, climate change can worsen existing social inequities because the most vulnerable communities lack the resources to adapt.

Governmental and non-governmental organizations play a vital role in protecting queer populations from climate change impacts. Any planning on disaster preparedness must be inclusive, with shelters and response frameworks that respect diverse identities. The creation of separate spaces for trans individuals in shelters can significantly improve safety and dignity, however this requires addressing practical constraints such as space shortages, particularly in rural areas, where even provisions for women or nursing mothers are often limited. Additionally, sensitization training, especially for the officials that lead rescue and rehabilitation efforts, is necessary to counter social stigma faced by trans individuals.

Consulting queer communities is essential for designing effective climate resilience programs that leverage insights from the grassroots. Across India, queer scholars, artists and writers are reimagining climate futures through their work. They are challenging exclusionary environmental narratives and advocating for more inclusive, intersectional climate action. From A Revathi’s reflections on displacement and belonging, to visual artist Saviya Lopes, whose work engages with themes of ecological grief and gendered survival – their contributions are powerful acts of resilience. These voices offer vital perspectives that must be centered in climate discourse.

To complement these interventions, there’s a need for policies that address existing vulnerabilities faced by queer individuals through subsidized housing, livelihood support and access to healthcare are also critical. Financial and technical support, including micro-loans, skill development and training in sustainable practices can further empower queer individuals and queer-led enterprises to adapt and thrive.

A Call to Action

As the train leaves the station, I’m left with a sense of urgency. Climate change is not a distant threat; it is here now, reshaping lives and landscapes. It is time we recognize that for India’s queer community the stakes are higher. Each flood, drought or cyclone further tightens the grip of inequality for vulnerable communities. But there is hope. The resilience of queer individuals and communities can become a powerful force for accelerated climate action. With targeted research, inclusive policies and community-driven solutions, we can ensure that no one is left behind in the efforts to build a better world for people, nature and climate.