Dr. Shahid & Rehan Khalid
| Climate Change and Its Disproportionate Impact on Women: A Gendered Analysis Climate change is not a gender-neutral crisis. While its consequences are felt across societies, women particularly those in low-income, rural, and marginalized communities—bear a disproportionate share of the burden. The interplay of social norms, unequal access to resources, and gendered roles intensifies women’s vulnerability to climate shocks. Applying a gender lens to climate change reveals not only the magnitude of these inequalities but also the urgent need for gender-responsive climate policies. Gendered Vulnerabilities in a Changing Climate Women in many developing countries are primary managers of water, food, and household energy. As droughts intensify, water sources dry up, and agricultural productivity declines, women’s daily labor increases. They often have to walk longer distances to fetch water or firewood, compromising their health, safety, and time for education or income-generating activities. Climate-induced migration further heightens women’s exposure to exploitation, harassment, and violence when traditional social protections erode. In disaster situations, gender disparities become even more pronounced. Women and girls face higher mortality rates during floods and heatwaves, partly due to restrictive mobility norms and lack of timely access to information. After disasters, women tend to lose livelihoods faster because they depend on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, livestock, and informal labor. Limited control over land, credit, technology, and decision-making restricts their ability to adapt or recover. Health, Nutrition, and Social Protection: Hidden Dimensions of Inequality Climate change also undermines women’s health and nutrition. Pregnant and lactating women face heightened risks from heat stress, food shortages, and climate-driven disease outbreaks. Water scarcity and poor sanitation increase exposure to infections. Girls are often the first to drop out of school during climate-induced crises, perpetuating cycles of poverty and limiting future resilience. Social protection systems are not always designed with a gender lens. Cash transfers, disaster relief, and livelihood programs often overlook women’s caregiving responsibilities or their limited access to formal institutions. Without targeted outreach, women may be excluded from climate-related compensation, recovery grants, or technical training opportunities—further widening existing inequalities. Women as Agents of Climate Resilience Despite their vulnerabilities, women are not merely victims—they are central to climate resilience. Their knowledge of natural resources, food systems, and community networks enables them to design and implement effective adaptation strategies. Across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, women-led cooperatives are advancing sustainable agriculture, water management, recycling, and renewable energy solutions. However, their leadership often remains underrecognized due to gender biases and exclusion from policy spaces. Strengthening women’s agency—through land rights, digital inclusion, climate education, access to finance, and participation in climate governance—can significantly enhance community-level resilience. Research shows that countries with higher female representation in parliaments adopt more ambitious climate policies and allocate resources more equitably. Toward Gender-Responsive Climate Action A gender-responsive approach to climate action requires acknowledging the structural inequalities that shape women’s experiences. Policymakers must integrate gender considerations into all stages of climate planning—risk assessments, financing, project design, and monitoring. This includes: Ensuring women’s full participation in climate decision-making forums. Prioritizing gender-responsive climate finance, with dedicated funds for women-led adaptation. Protecting women’s land and inheritance rights. Designing early warning systems and disaster response strategies that meet women’s specific needs. Strengthening social protection programs that target women in climate-vulnerable communities. Conclusion Climate change is magnifying existing gender inequalities, but it also presents an opportunity to transform them. By applying a gender lens to climate policies, countries can build more inclusive, equitable, and resilient societies. Empowering women is not an optional component of climate action—it is essential for achieving sustainable development and for ensuring that communities can withstand the accelerating impacts of a warming planet. |
