Empower women in climate action

The year 2024 is on track to be the warmest on record.

- GOVIND SINGH, SHAYANI SARKAR

According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the past ten years have been the warmest decade on record and global warming is quickly increasing climate extremes, impacts and risks.

The resulting climate catastrophe is threatening human health, safety and livelihoods, and is widening pre-existing inequalities especially related to gender. Climate change is putting the health and livelihoods of women at risk while adding to the systemic inequalities faced by them.

According to the Global Gender Gap 2024 report of the World Economic Forum, climate crisis is impacting women's reproductive health outcomes and pushing millions of women and girls into abject poverty.

According to one UN estimate, women and children are 14 times more likely to be fatally impacted during extreme weather events. This is attributed to women and children having limited access to information, mobility, decision-making and resources.

A 2022 UNICEF report titled "Bring in the Girls" informs that four out of five people displaced by climate change are girls and women. Despite these startling figures, there is little effort to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women.

Women form part of the invisible work force, are expected to provide unpaid care responsibilities and have reduced access to education which are some of the factors preventing recognition of gendered vulnerabilities to climate change.