Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a present crisis that is widening gender gaps, increasing violence against women and girls, and reversing decades of progress in human rights and sustainable development. A UN Spotlight Initiative report reveals that rising global temperatures and related disasters are not just environmental concerns they are fueling gender-based violence, displacing communities, increasing food insecurity, and threatening the health and safety of millions of women worldwide. This article explores how climate change uniquely affects women and girls, why feminist climate justice is essential, and how women are leading transformative solutions. Climate Crisis: A Gendered Emergency
The climate emergency is intensifying conditions that disproportionately harm women and girls. It exacerbates poverty, increases displacement, and deepens gender-based violence. The UN Spotlight Initiative highlights a disturbing trend: climate change is acting as a “threat multiplier”—making already fragile lives more vulnerable.
Key Data:
- A 1°C rise in global temperature correlates with a 4.7% increase in intimate partner violence (IPV).
- A 2°C rise could lead to 40 million additional cases of IPV each year by 2090.
- A 3.5°C rise could more than double those figures.
Weather Extremes and the Surge in Violence
Extreme weather does more than destroy homes and crops it fuels gender-based violence. Disasters like droughts, heatwaves, and floods intensify economic stress and displace families, creating environments where women are at heightened risk.
Key Data:
- 93.1 million people were affected by weather disasters in 2023.
- 423 million women experienced IPV that same year.
- A 28% rise in femicide was reported during heatwaves.
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, IPV could jump from 48 million (2015) to 140 million by 2060 under a 4°C warming scenario.
- Limiting warming to 1.5°C could lower IPV cases from 24% to 14% by 2060.
Women and Resource Scarcity: A Daily Struggle
Women and girls in rural and Indigenous communities are often responsible for securing food, water, and fuel. Climate change makes these resources scarcer, increasing their workload and risk.
“Water is increasingly scarce… women have to travel to another community or even to the nearest city,” says Miriam Jemio, an environmental journalist from Bolivia.
This added burden often forces girls out of school, affecting their long-term development and independence.
Displacement Fuels Gender-Based Violence
Climate change displaces millions annually, driving families into temporary shelters where safety is minimal and law enforcement is weak. In these conditions, women face a heightened risk of violence, trafficking, and exploitation.
Key Insights:
- Displaced communities see increased instances of sexual violence, child marriage, and trafficking.
- By 2100, 1 in every 10 cases of IPV could be attributed to climate change if no action is taken.
Survival Gap: Women Are More Likely to Die in Disasters
Gender inequalities severely affect survival rates during disasters. Women often lack access to information, decision-making power, and mobility, leading to higher fatalities.
Health and Safety Concerns:
- Women often prioritize others over themselves during evacuations.
- Pregnant women face increased complications from extreme heat.
- Extreme heat has been linked to higher stillbirth rates.
- Rising temperatures are helping spread malaria, dengue, and Zika.
After disasters, access to healthcare and recovery resources is limited, creating a cycle of deepening poverty and vulnerability.
Climate Crisis and Intersectional Inequality
Not all women are affected equally. The risk multiplies for those facing additional forms of discrimination based on race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or geographic location.
Particularly Vulnerable Groups:
- Indigenous and Afro-descendant women
- Women and girls with disabilities
- LGBTQ+ individuals
- Women in rural, conflict, and disaster-prone areas
“If you are invisible in everyday life, your needs will not be thought of, let alone addressed, in a crisis,” says Matcha Phorn-in, a feminist human rights activist in Thailand.
Intersectional approaches are essential to ensure equitable climate solutions.
Feminist Climate Justice in Action
Despite facing the worst of the crisis, women are leading impactful solutions. In Tumaco, Colombia, the “conchera women” began replanting mangroves to protect their ecosystem and livelihoods.
Impact of Their Work:
- Restored mangroves support carbon capture, biodiversity, and fishing industries.
- Women gained new skills in finance, leadership, and climate adaptation.
- Their project showcases how local solutions can drive global climate resilience.
“We have learned resilience from the mangroves… It has given us new hope,” says Magnolia Ordoñez, a leader of the Raíces del Manglar Association.
Climate Change Is Driving Women Into Poverty
Climate-induced economic shocks are disproportionately driving women and girls into poverty. Women’s livelihoods often tied to agriculture and informal labor are among the hardest hit.
Gender Snapshot 2024:
- By 2050, 158 million more women and girls may fall into poverty.
- This is 16 million more than men and boys.
- 47.8 million more women currently face food insecurity than men.
As climate disruptions grow, without targeted policies, the gap will widen.
Why Empowering Women is Key to Climate Solutions
Women are not just victims they are innovators, leaders, and protectors of the planet. Empowering women through education, funding, and representation strengthens resilience and sustainability.
Needed Actions:
- Increase access to green jobs in renewable energy and sustainable farming.
- Invest in climate education and training for girls and women.
- Promote community leadership roles for women in climate policymaking.
- Ensure gender-sensitive disaster preparedness and recovery plans.
Gender equality is not only a human right it’s a strategic climate solution.
Conclusion: Feminist Justice is Climate Justice
The climate crisis is not gender neutral. It disproportionately affects women and girls, worsening poverty, violence, and displacement. The UN’s findings confirm that gender inequality and climate change are deeply intertwined.
However, women are not helpless. Across the globe, they are responding with strength, innovation, and community-based solutions. From mangrove reforestation in Colombia to rights advocacy in Thailand, women are proving that inclusive leadership creates better outcomes for everyone.
Climate justice must include gender justice. Only by centering women and girls in climate strategies can we build a safer, more sustainable, and equitable future.
Written by Vaishali Verma
Sub-editor, DisastersNews