Impact of Climate Change on Women and Girls
Climate change is forcing girls to drop out of school due to migration and family struggles.
Rural women face malnutrition, anaemia, and health issues from food insecurity, drought, and extreme weather.
Heatwaves and floods affect agriculture, leading to income loss, job migration, and increased burden on women.
Violence against women rises with temperature increases — physical and sexual violence rise with each degree.
Women already do over 70% of unpaid work; climate change increases tasks like collecting water and firewood.
Gaps in Policy and Implementation
Though India has passed important gender laws, many are poorly implemented.
The Beijing+30 India Report lacks strong connections between gender and climate issues.
Current climate policies mostly ignore women, farmers, and people in poverty.
There’s a need for climate budgets that are truly gender-responsive, not just tokenistic.
Women as Key Agents of Climate Action
Women, especially in rural areas, play a key role in climate adaptation and sustainable farming.
Indigenous women help preserve climate-resilient seeds and manage local ecosystems.
Women’s groups share workloads, respond to disasters, and improve community resilience.
Priorities differ by region: rural women focus on forest-based livelihoods and migration issues, urban women on pollution and waste.
Investing in women’s education and leadership can help bridge gender gaps in climate response.
Way Forward
A gender-responsive climate plan is needed at national and state levels.
Create support hubs for women during climate disasters — with safety, health, and migration assistance.
Encourage private sector investment in women-led climate solutions and green businesses.
Foster partnerships between government, civil society, and private players for collective action.
Focus on knowledge sharing, training, and funding to empower women in building a sustainable future.
COMMENTS