Women on the frontlines of climate change

The poor are exceptionally vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and the majority of the global poor are women. Poorer women living in developing countries are more affected by the impacts of climate change than women in other living situations, as they are more likely to rely on natural resources, or live in places lacking infrastructure.

In these countries more women than men participate in farming for survival and water collecting. This exposes women to more negative impacts from poor quality natural resources. The Women’s Climate Action Agenda by the Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network (WECAN) outlines that ‘men’s work’ is more likely to be paid, and this protects them from the livelihood impacts of resource degradation. 

The Women’s Environmental Network (UK) explains that women are more likely to be affected by natural disasters and extreme weather events, and climate change will worsen things like floods and heatwaves. Studies have found that in countries where women do not have equal rights, they are more likely to die in natural disasters than men.

A team of researchers found that the impact of natural disasters on women is based on their socio-economic status in the affected country. There are several reasons for this, such as social norms and expected female behaviour that make women more vulnerable. For example, women feeling they can’t relocate to safety without permission from male relatives, or their role as carers for children or the elderly limiting their ability to move quickly.

Some scholars have suggested that climate change could worsen existing conflicts over natural resources. This would impact women as the main collectors and managers of these natural resources.

However, women are critical in the fight against climate change. There are many positive, big picture climate actions decision-makers can take, and the Gender and Climate Change Agenda, produced by the Women’s Environmental Network (UK) outlines three broad areas for action:

1. Gender sensitive strategies to mitigate climate change, where strategies to limit the negative effects of climate change consider gender issues
2. Addressing gender inequality, as without dealing with this, women will continue to suffer more from climate injustice
3. Gender-sensitive strategies for adaptation, where strategies to to get used to living with the impacts of climate change consider the specific impacts climate change has on women

Women might be on the frontlines of the climate fight, but they don’t have to be victims. Women can be powerful actors for change. Groups like the Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network, Women’s Environment and Development Organisation, 1 Million Women, GenderCC, and Women’s Climate Justice support women, both as individuals and as grassroots groups, around the world taking climate action. Click to find out exactly how these organisations are making a difference, and to learn more about the female fight for climate justice.