Opinion: The Gendered Impact Of Climate Change — Why Women Bear The Brunt

<p><strong><em>By Eilia Jafar&nbsp;</em></strong></p>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Climate change does not discriminate between genders. Yet, not everyone gets impacted equally. Women are more vulnerable to its effects owing to structural vulnerabilities and inherent gender stereotypes, especially in developing nations, where they comprise a substantial percentage of the unorganised labour force.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Health Risks: A Disproportionate Burden</strong></h3>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Women are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. According to a 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) report, exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy increases the risk of hypertension, dehydration, and respiratory issues, putting mother and child at risk. Rising global temperatures also raise the risk of preterm births, low birth weights, and maternal health complications.</span></p>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Changes in weather patterns have resulted in a rise in vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria, and women, who tend to be the primary caregivers in households, are more vulnerable when caring for ailing family members. The issue is made worse by rural areas&rsquo; limited access to healthcare, which limits women&rsquo;s options for treatment and preventive care.</span></p>
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<h3><strong>Climate-Induced Displacement&nbsp;</strong></h3>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Extreme weather events are forcing millions to migrate, and women are disproportionately affected. According to the UN Environment Programme, 80% of climate-displaced people are women or girls. Migration due to climate stressors heightens the risks of gender-based violence, human trafficking, and unintended pregnancies. For women forced to leave their homes due to floods, droughts, or rising sea levels, displacement means not only losing their livelihoods but also facing threats to their personal safety in overcrowded refugee camps and makeshift settlements.</span></p>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>The UN Women report launched at COP28 projects that, by 2050, climate change could push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty. Furthermore, 232 million could face food insecurity. Travelling longer distances to fetch water &mdash; a task largely carried out by women of the household &mdash; and reduced food availability translate into additional physical strain and nutritional deficiencies.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Unpaid Labour And Mental Health Toll</strong></h3>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>The invisible burden of unpaid labour intensifies as climate change disrupts daily life. When families fall ill due to climate-induced diseases or struggle with economic losses, the responsibility of caregiving disproportionately falls on women. This additional unpaid workload erodes their ability to pursue education, sustain employment, or participate in economic activities that could provide financial stability.</span></p>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Working women in urban areas face another set of challenges. Climate stressors such as heatwaves increase stress and exhaustion, impacting mental health. Rising temperatures have been linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression, particularly among those juggling work responsibilities with caregiving duties. The lack of affordable childcare and workplace flexibility further limits women&rsquo;s ability to manage climate-induced pressures.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Exclusion From Decision-Making And Policy Solutions</strong></h3>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Due to traditional societal structures that frequently keep women out of decision-making forums, women continue to be largely absent from important policy discussions on climate resilience and mitigation. As a result, their unique vulnerabilities and insights are not considered in climate policies and disaster preparedness strategies. Without sufficient representation in environmental governance, solutions remain male-centric and fail to address the unique challenges that climate change imposes on women.</span></p>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Gender-inclusive policies must be given top priority in local and global initiatives. Programmes supporting climate adaptation must ensure women&rsquo;s equal access to capital, land ownership, and sustainable practice education. In order to address the gendered effects of climate change, more effective, community-driven solutions may result from giving women more leadership positions in environmental governance.</span></p>
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<h3><strong>Empowerment &amp; Access</strong></h3>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Mitigating the gendered impact of climate change requires structural change. Policies should focus on:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style=”font-weight: 400;” aria-level=”1″><strong>Economic Empowerment:</strong><span style=”font-weight: 400;”> Strengthening women&rsquo;s access to financial services, land rights, and climate-resilient jobs.</span></li>
<li style=”font-weight: 400;” aria-level=”1″><strong>Healthcare Access</strong><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>: Expanding maternal healthcare facilities and integrating climate-related health risks into public health policies.</span></li>
<li style=”font-weight: 400;” aria-level=”1″><strong>Protection For Displaced Women</strong><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>: Ensuring refugee policies recognise and address gender-specific vulnerabilities.</span></li>
<li style=”font-weight: 400;” aria-level=”1″><strong>Access To Latest Techniques And Tools</strong><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>: Training women in sustainable farming techniques and providing access to climate-adaptive tools.</span></li>
<li style=”font-weight: 400;” aria-level=”1″><strong>Inclusion In Decision-Making</strong><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>: Promoting women&rsquo;s participation in climate negotiations and local governance.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Climate change cannot be discussed in a gender-neutral manner. Women will bear the brunt of climate change unless gender-sensitive policies are put in place, especially for those in vulnerable social and economic positions. Addressing these disparities is essential to creating an economically secure and sustainable future for everybody.</span></p>
<p><em><span style=”font-weight: 400;”>The writer is a humanitarian and development professional.</span></em></p>
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