Climate Change and Gender Inequity
ACESWorld’s ASK4Girls Club participants in Kamirekrom, Ghana plant moringa trees as part of our climate action activities.
by Jamie Pattara
While climate change impacts the health and livelihoods of all people around the world, women and girls bear the heaviest burden. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has said that “climate change is an urgent women’s health concern and a major public health challenge” (Addressing Climate Change, n.d.). The impact can be seen in a variety of ways, including severe weather events, food and water insecurity, conflict, and the spread of infectious diseases. The degree to which climate change affects the lives of a population is dependent on several factors, with socioeconomic status and gender being top indicators of the outcome (Singhal, 2022).
With 70% of women living in poverty globally (United Nations Environment Programme, n.d.), this group faces the worst of the outcomes associated with climate change. The common daily tasks for women, particularly finding water and food, become more difficult and time-consuming (United Nations Environment Programme, n.d.). In fact, climate change has increased the hours women work daily to 12-14 hours during times of severe weather events (Singhal, 2022). Furthermore, women often go without eating when food is limited in order to ensure their children have enough to eat (Singhal, 2022). Though women spend more time completing these tasks, they have little or no control over the distribution of resources or response to crises (Singhal, 2022). Younger girls are also severely impacted by climate change. They are often forced to drop out of school to help support their families (United Nations Environment Programme, n.d.). Additionally, girls who lack education or financial independence are more likely to be pushed into marriage before age 18 as their families struggle to make ends meet (United Nations Environment Programme, n.d.). ACOG emphasizes the significant health risks that women and girls face under the burden of climate change. These include increased risk of disease, malnutrition, sexual violence, mental health issues, lack of reproductive control, higher risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, and death (Addressing Climate Change, n.d.).
Despite all of the challenges, the situation is not hopeless. The answer is to include the women impacted by this public health crisis in the search for solutions. First, education is crucial so that women and girls understand how climate change impacts all of the areas of life described above, as well as the role of their community in climate change solutions (THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development, n.d.). It is crucial that women be given space to voice their experiences and their ideas for change. On a broader scale, we must work toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These include gender equality and climate action items in several ways (THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development, n.d.). Women on a global scale should be involved in the development of programs and technology related to improving environmental health (Singhal, 2022). Climate change programs should include some that address the challenges specific to women (Addressing Climate Change, n.d.). Finally, we must promote policies that mitigate the health impacts faced by women (Addressing Climate Change, n.d.). The ultimate goal is that world leaders agree to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with industry decreasing their carbon footprint (Addressing Climate Change, n.d.).
This is a severe public health crisis and immediate steps must be taken. Any program or policy that is developed should include the input of women and girls, as they are experts in their own lives and the ways in which climate change makes their lives harder. By empowering women to become actively involved in this process, we can make lasting changes that improve lives.
Please watch the video below to hear stories from Egbo and Comfort.
References
Addressing Climate Change. (n.d.). ACOG. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.acog.org/clinical-information/policy-and-position-statements/position-statements/2021/addressing-climate-change
Singhal, S. (2022, September 2). Climate change and women: A crisis within a crisis. Observer Research Foundation. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/climate-change-and-women/
THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://sdgs.un.org/goals
United Nations Environment Programme. (n.d.). The Road Women Make. UNEP. Retrieved September 16, 2022, from https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/speech/road-women-make