The Gendered Lens On Climate Crisis

“The climate crisis is not gender neutral, UN Women.” Women, who make up nearly half the world's population, bear the brunt of its devastating effects - particularly those dependent on agriculture and manual labor. As climate change turns more calamitous, women and girls are likely to be affected the most.

From unequal access to resources to increased vulnerability during natural disasters, climate change deepens existing gender inequalities. As UN Women aptly states, “Climate change drives conflict across the world; women and girls face increased vulnerabilities to all forms of gender-based violence.".

As they have responsibilities of managing the households and caring for the entire family, especially in developing countries, they are more prone to persistent climate crises. To feed their family and children, they must tread arduous paths that increase their exposure to tenacious weather events; deluge, rainfall, drought, or muddy areas depending upon the region they’re aboding in.

Women face these challenges due to systemic inequalities in access to resources and opportunities. Being the most vulnerable section of society, they are underrepresented in climate change, disaster management, adaptation, and mitigation-related decision-making due to the fact they have less financial, technological, and political clout which impedes their way to combating climate crisis; however, this pressing issue demands urgent action and a gender-inclusive approach to combat this on-going menace.

Globally, 80% of displaced people are women. The 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh devastated communities, disproportionately affecting women, who made up 90% of the casualties. The deplorable flooding of 2022 caused 650,000 pregnant Pakistani women to give birth under the open sky without any proper medical facility. Almost 80 million women and girls had to face a plethora of unimaginable complications as they were deprived of basic menstrual and hygiene facilities due to inaccessibility to clean toilets and water shortage.

The Monson marriage has become a peculiar phenomenon attributed to South Asian countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.  Underage girls are being traded off into child marriages in return for food due to persistent poverty and extreme starvation in climate-prone regions across the world. All these facts imply that the climate crisis is not just an environmental degrader; it is directly linked with social injustice aggravating already existing social disparities.  It is, therefore, the need of the hour to discuss the interplay of climate crisis and gender discrepancies, and address the plight of women due to climate change.

43% of the global agricultural labor force consists of women and women and girls account for 60-80% of global food production. Yet, only 15% of agrarian landowners are women. According to the UN, “men still fill 67% of climate-related decision-making roles and women’s representation in national and global climate negotiating bodies remains below 30%.” These disparities underscore the disproportionate burden women shoulder due to climate adversity. Statistics such as these highlight the urgent need for gender-responsive policies to address these vulnerabilities effectively.

Concerning the association of climate calamity with gender disparity, Eco-feminism offers a critical perspective on the connection between women and nature, shedding light on how women contribute to safeguarding communities despite systemic barriers to equal representation. This connection becomes even more evident during climate disasters. Eco-feminism highlights the interconnectedness of gender-based oppression and environmental degradation, advocating for equal rights and opportunities, especially for marginalized groups such as Indigenous women, women of color, and other minorities.

It raises a crucial question: What steps can we take to ensure women’s voices are heard in climate leadership? Closing the gender gap in climate action begins with a comprehensive gender analysis. Equitable distribution of resources, opportunities, and support is essential to developing evidence-based policies to combat climate change. Equal access to financial resources can empower men and women to apply their skills and leadership to these challenges. For example, Bhutan has established Gender Focal Points and women’s organizations in all its ministries to promote female participation in climate initiatives. This holistic approach ensures that women’s voices are integral to decision-making processes.

Innovative financial mechanisms are also critical for empowering women in climate action. Zimbabwe is creating a renewable energy fund to support women entrepreneurs, enabling them to lead renewable energy projects and foster sustainable practices. Similarly, Uzbekistan’s pilot green mortgage facilities provide affordable, low-carbon technologies for rural women. By implementing gender-responsive monitoring systems, countries can track progress and ensure accountability. Uruguay, for instance, has established a gender-responsive monitoring, reporting, and verification system to measure how its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) contribute to gender equality and women's empowerment in climate activities.

What truly will happen if women contribute to climate action or are at the frontlines to combat this peril. Here are a few reasons women should lead the role alongside men in climate action and mitigation strategies. As discussed earlier, half of the world's population is comprised of women and girls and they are mostly left out in important matters like climate change. Whereas, this ever-increasing problem of climate requires everyone on board if we truly want to achieve our Paris Agreement goal of reducing the global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Indigenous women, who are at the forefront of climate conversation, are affluent with invaluable knowledge to be exploited for resilience and mitigation strategies. Moreover, empowering women in the agriculture sector via proper awareness, technology, and resources can give a positive turnout as they make up half of the agrarian labor force worldwide. As estimated by the UN, if women are given equal access to opportunities as men, the production rate can exceed 20 to 30 percent meanwhile, it can help reduce the world hunger rate by 12 to 17 percent.

Additionally, women are the first responders to climate resilience and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, investing in gender parity and women’s empowerment has far-reaching impacts including the conservation of the environment, reduction of poverty, and achievement of sustainable development goals for a prosperous and sustained society. Addressing climate issues through a gender perspective not only solves the problem but also provides a forum for gender equality and women’s rights. For this purpose, The Gender Action Plan has been signed by governments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which advocates for equal and fruitful participation of women in climate action and decision-making.

When women lead in climate action and environmental protection, communities and ecosystems are better equipped to thrive. Women’s participation in decision-making leads to more ambitious and transparent policies, promoting the production of sustainable goods, renewable energy, and resilient food systems. Supporting women’s leadership is essential to bridging the gap between climate justice and equality. Providing women with equal access to education and awareness initiatives strengthens their leadership and capacity to address climate challenges effectively. By addressing gender-based oppression and environmental degradation in tandem, we can pave the way for a sustainable and equitable future for all.