Why climate change matters for women

Authors: Sara Duerto Valero and Sneha Kaul

Photo: IAPB/Md Harun Or Rashid

Climate change is an urgent global challenge that is affecting communities worldwide. While the impacts are felt by all, underlying inequalities and uneven coping capacities leave some people more vulnerable. Women are at heightened risk as they are overrepresented among the poor, are highly dependent on natural resources, and are often left out of environmental decision-making.

New data reveal the important intersection of gender and climate change in Asia and the Pacific, providing compelling evidence to help you understand why climate change matters for women.

What happens when the climate changes?

As the Earth’s climate undergoes significant changes, we can expect deviations in weather patterns. These changes have ripple effects, leading to alterations in rainfall, temperatures, atmospheric dryness, and humidity. Worse yet, due to the high unpredictability of these phenomena, existing data are not always useful to forecast future changes, rendering humans highly vulnerable and putting biodiversity at significant risk. In this rapidly evolving climate, the potential impacts are vast. 

What do long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns mean for women?