Climate Change and Its Unequal Impact on Women

Jan 15, 2020 | Mary Merkenich
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While some do not want to discuss the cause of Australia’s horrendous bushfires — runaway climate change — even fewer want to talk about how catastrophic fires are disproportionately affecting women and how it should be tackled.

Data from the 2009 Victorian Black Saturday fires shows that men are more likely to die during bushfires or other natural disasters. Men made up the majority of fatalities in bushfires and floods from 1998 to 2007. This is likely due to more men being involved in front-line emergency service roles and other high-risk activities.