Women Play a Key Role in Fighting Climate Change

Mar 8, 2022 | Annette Ssemuwemba, Apurva Mudliar, and Peter Donelan
View Original

Women are 14 times more likely to die from a climate disaster than men. That finding, by UN Women, reflects growing acknowledgment that the adverse effects of natural disasters affect marginalized groups, including women and children, more disproportionally.

It is easy to see why: women are poorer because they earn less, have less-secure jobs, and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most, according to a report by Care, an international charity. Similarly, the World Bank notes that micro, small and medium enterprises, in which many women work, are less able to bear the costs of climate change than larger firms.

Despite being face-to-face with the problem, women are often not part of the solution. The UN’s Gender Action Plan notes that sustainable development can only be achieved if women are involved in developing and implementing all aspects of climate change mitigation and adaptation. This requires making women’s economic empowerment a central pillar in climate policy and action.

For instance, trade-driven growth is vital to eliminating extreme poverty but can increase the emissions that cause global warming. One pathway to sustainable development is to ensure that this growth is low-carbon and climate-resilient. Enhancing the place of women in trade allows them to play a key role in addressing climate change while raising their incomes and driving overall growth.