Why Women are Most Affected by Climate Change
The effects of climate change create an imbalance of benefit to burden. This means those who contribute the least are likely to face the worst of climate realities. There are many ways to look at these discrepancies. These factors include gender, race, economics, country of origin, level of education, etc.
In recent years, it has become evident that women are the most affected by climate change. Here are four reasons why:
Systemic inequities
Climate change is good at highlighting the systemic challenges faced by many. It makes food and housing insecurity more likely. It decreases health. It can also lead to lack of employment, among other things.
Women are more likely to live in poverty and be denied basic human rights. This includes the right to own land and the right to move freely. They are also more likely to face violence when times are tough at home, such as when facing food insecurity or other environmental stresses. While these are often seen as “over there” problems, the reality is, they are also issues in Canada. It is a global concern. In fact, the United Nations estimates that of all the environmental refugees around the world, 80% of the displaced are women.
Power imbalances
Climate change is as much about women’s rights and power imbalances as it is about the planet itself. These imbalances surface at home, work, and in politics.
Let’s start by looking at how this plays out at home.
In times of instability, women face a greater risk of gender-based violence (GBV). Research about GBV, in the face of climate change, shows women are more likely to experience forms of domestic violence than men. This is especially true during times of environmental stress. Persistent food and water insecurity are the most common reasons for such violence.
As climate change becomes more prevalent, women will face greater stress at work. Generally speaking, women work in both the formal and informal sector. This means that they are more likely to work to earning income, and look after parents, children, their partner, and any other loved ones. If we add in climate change, it typically results in greater workloads for women. This often includes more hazardous, physical and mentally stressful conditions, which increases workplace fatalities. When disasters strike, it is usually women who end up working those long hours, especially on the front line. Women are also more likely to take on many tasks, placing them at greater strain on their own health. As a result, the risk of becoming ill themselves increases over time.
Further, women are less likely to be represented in decision-making processes at home and across all levels of government. Since the 2000s, more women than ever before have been elected into all levels of government. As of the beginning of 2023, 22.8% of all cabinet positions globally are held by women. And what are their main portfolios? Would you be surprised to know the top 5 portfolios held by women are:
Women and gender equality
Family and children affairs
Social inclusion and development
Social protection and social security
Indigenous and minority affairs
Yet, when it comes to local governments, women have had more success. In fact, globally, they hold 33.5% of those elected. This is marginally better in North America and Europe, both of whom sit at 37%.
The sad reality is, the lack of political power, means the rights of women are more likely to be taken away. We have seen examples of this unrelated to climate change in recent years, such as the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022. Without a more balanced political playing field, women’s rights are likely to be taken away, regardless of the political system in power.
Access to education
Education plays a huge role in socio-economic status, regardless of where you are in the world. If you are a woman, having even a basic level of education can impact your ability to stay above the poverty line. Yet, access to education for women is less likely than for the opposite sex, globally. This is especially true for low- and middle-income countries. When it comes to climate change, women are further disadvantaged from accessing education. Here’s why:
Women tend to be the natural caregivers within a family unit. When climate change shocks rear their ugly head, it’s the women and girls of the family who stay home to care for others. This includes family property. I know in North America, we think of men as the agricultural labour, but this is not the case for many farms around the world. In fact, women play a significant role in food production on a global scale.
If we look at the global South, 43% of women take part in the workforce and manage 66% of the livestock. Yet, one third of these women are unable to own land because of laws that prevent land ownership. If we compare this to the global North, an average of 30% of farms across Europe, North America and Australia are owned and operated by women. It is important to note that an increase in women-run farms in the global North is recent. Research suggests from the 2000s onward.
So, let’s bring this back to access to education. In times of crisis, such as failing farmlands and crop production, women and girls leave school to help. This leaves the men and boys free to continue their education. This is something I saw first hand, during my time working abroad. Sadly, the longer girls are out of school the less likely they are to return.
Another consideration is how education has changed the lives of so many women. With the rise of educated women, the rate of child births and early marriages have decreased. Education empowers women to make more informed decisions about their bodies and their careers. And if you think this is another “over there” example, think again! Similar statistics exist for women accessing education in the United States. Education changes the trajectory of women’s lives.
As women become more educated, they are more likely to advocate for their lives and their rights. If we know climate change will affect women more, it makes sense that the more educated a woman becomes the more she will advocate for better solutions. If you consider the history of the environmental movement, many of the key players are women! But it also means, the more educated they become, the more likely they are to hold higher paying jobs. This means a reduced likelihood of poverty or inability to meet the social determinants of health. This is not only true for themselves, but their communities, as well.
Access to healthcare
Last but not least, let’s talk about how the climate crisis impacts women’s health. There are plenty of studies that show women wear the bulk of the mental and physical load of climate change. A 2016 analysis looked at 130 studies. It concluded that 68% of women faced negative health impacts from climate change. These negative health impacts include food insecurity (79% more likely than men), mental health (69%), and death from extreme weather (64%). Men, on the other hand, were more likely to be face infectious disease (64%) and suicide following extreme weather events (twice as likely). All these statistics are concerning, and not just for women.
So, there you have it. The impacts of climate change on women are lengthy and complex. This is like the climate crisis itself. It’s also important to note that this is only a sliver of the research and ways women are disproportionately affected by the crisis. But the bottomline is this: access to education is the simplest and most effective way to improve the lives of women around the world. It's also the best way to balance social, economic, and environmental inequities.
