Why Intersectionality is the Lens Through Which We Must Create Solutions to the Climate Crisis: The Importance of Women’s Perspectives
COP29, recognized as the most influential conference on climate change, ended in late November of last year. From the 11th to the 22nd, we watched as world leaders came together to discuss solutions to some of the most prevalent issues created by the climate crisis. However, the long-anticipated summit was surrounded by controversy in every aspect, from the host country to conclusions reached at the end of the conference. This year, there was also a particularly low visibility of a certain demographic: of 78 world leaders present at COP29, only 7 were women (Leigh, 2024). This number raises concerns, as it is recognized by climate experts that women and girls shoulder the weight of climate effects, yet only 10% of the delegates at the last COP represented them. From this alone, it is clear that a greater effort must be made to include demographics that statistically suffer more from the consequences of climate change in the discussion for climate solutions.
Climate change and its impact on women
The climate crisis is a reality we all have to face; across the globe, the effects of climate change are being felt by everyone, regardless of race, gender, economic status, or age. However, women experience unique, and arguably worse encounters with its impacts. Recent studies (UNDP, 2023) show more and more frequently how these impacts disproportionately affect populations which already face inequities: the climate crisis is what is called a “threat multiplier” (UN Women, 2022). For women, the direct link between the increased effect of the climate crisis and the worsening of living conditions is undeniable.
In 2023, we witnessed record-breaking sea surface temperatures (Cheng, 2024), the hottest Northern Hemisphere extratropical summer in 2000 years (Esper, 2024), and the breaking of many other climate records (Ripple, 2023). The threat of rising temperatures impacts women and girls, as they comprise 43% of the global agriculture workforce, a sector severely affected by rising temperatures as well as natural disasters. Temperature shifts have altered seasonal patterns, with droughts and floods alike resulting in failed crops worldwide and wildfires destroying acres upon acres of fields. Economically, this puts millions of women and girls at a loss, as their only sources of resources and income are devastated.
The trajectory of the impact of the climate crisis on the lives of women and girls is increasing, and a new study by UN Women says that “by 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty and see 236 million more face food insecurity,” (UN Women, 2023). The threat of climate change on the welfare and futures of young women across the globe is being put at risk due to these influxes. Food insecurity caused by climate disaster is not only resulting in a decreasing economic threshold, but an uptick in gender based violence, child marriage and trafficking, all which are heavily influenced by the economic stability of families in critical conditions. As food begins to run out, families trade female members of their family in exchange for commodities to feed the rest of the family. After climate disasters such as cyclones, droughts, and typhoons, an increase in domestic violence, genital mutilation (an invasive procedure that involves the cutting of some or all of the vulva) and sexual abuse increased in over 4 regions in the Global South (UNFPA, 2024). The already serious conditions in which many young women find themselves are only drastically aggravated with this crisis.
An often forgotten group under the intersectional umbrella is pregnant women and their children, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures increase disease transmission, and vector-borne (illnesses spread by ticks, fleas, or mosquitos) illnesses, such as malaria, Zika virus and dengue fever, which are more likely to spread to humans. Vector-borne diseases are especially concerning to pregnant women, since they are associated with miscarriage, premature birth, and microcephaly, a birth defect causing a small head due to a brain abnormality (UNFPA, 2024). In addition, rising temperatures increase the risk for stillborn births by 6%, adding an additional 4 stillbirths per 10,000 births. In general, women and their children have a mortality rate 14 times higher than their male counterparts when extreme weather events occur. Temperatures, seasons, and weather are becoming increasingly inconsistent, making room for consequences such as these to cause detriment to women globally.
Women and the development of solutions
Climate change is especially detrimental to women, but they still make up a minority of those involved in the decision-making process. This is harmful not only because a huge part of a highly impacted demographic is missing out on the chance to guide the problem-solving discussions which directly impact their future, but also because women’s insight is particularly valuable in coming up with more effective solutions.
Rosa van Driel, a Climate Justice Policy Advisor from CARE Netherlands explains this issue. “When women's insights are ignored, we miss out on solutions that are fairer and more sustainable. Evidence shows that gender-equitable decision-making at all levels leads to more effective climate governance and helps to close adaptation gaps and avoid maladaptation initiatives that do more harm than good.” (van Driel, 2024). Excluding gender inclusivity eliminates intersectionality, or the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups (Webster, 2024), in relation to solutions.
Furthermore, an increase in women’s rights has been linked with positive effects on populations, which, in case of the climate crisis, can lead to creating communities more prone to developing effective solutions. A study conducted by Gonzaga University explores the historical connection between climate change and the fight for women’s rights, correlating issues such as reproductive education and bodily autonomy with population control. “Women across the world have often lacked proper access to contraceptives and family planning resources, which means more children and a growing population. Rather than affording women the access to such resources, policymakers often focus their efforts on ‘population control’. These efforts have historical roots in reproductive coercion and systemic racism, and have resulted in mass-sterilization projects aimed at Black, Latina, and other women of color.” (Redpath, 2020).
When women are put first, the entirety of the population thrives. Dealing with climate change in a way that can truly benefit whole communities means putting women’s rights first when coming up with solutions.
Beyond gender discrimination: cultural and economic divides
Within the female population, there are also divides that unevenly distribute the effects of climate change. Climate change disproportionately affects women in the Global South, whereas women in the Global North aren’t as inpacted by the same phenomenon. This is because the Global North is characterized as more economically prosperous, technologically advanced, and generally, democratic. Meanwhile, the Global South has a history of economic disruption, delayed advances in technology, and political instability; this contrast between contexts can create differences which heaviliy impact the perception of the consequences of the crisis. Taking into account these differences, it can be assumed that the Global North has more access to resources and education than the Global South, especially poorer regions that are unable to utilize them. For women, this means gaps in education, professional, and social opportunities. We’re able to observe this divide in things as broad as which countries are contributing the most to climate change and the countries which suffer from it the most: for reference, the top polluters are China, the United States, and India, whilst the most affected countries are Sudan, Madagascar, and Pakistan (World Food Program USA, 2023). The inequal distrubution in countries between the causes and effects of climate change is a crucial concept in understanding the complexity of this phenomenon, and the impact of this uneveness leaves its mark on women that are most vulenrable.
Many Indigenous women take the brunt of this cultural divide. They face adverse effects of climate change due to economic divides, despite having some of the most innovative solutions. Women play many roles within several unique Indigenous communities worldwide, but all rely on the land to sustain their ways of life. “Indigenous peoples often live in close connection with the land; many communities participate in subsistence activities (such as hunting and fishing) and spend time outdoors for cultural or spiritual purposes.” For example, the Kankanaey Indigenous peoples (specifically women) partake in growing their own food as a way to connect to and respect the land. However, the effects of climate change such as temperature shifts and natural disasters have forced Kankanaey women to grow a plethora of unfamiliar crops to secure an income, as opposed to their traditional crop, rice. Another example of this can be observed within the Turkana tribe of Kenya, Africa, where women collect water from the local river to hydrate their families. Normally, this takes around 30 minutes; in times of drought, it can take up to six hours to complete this seemingly routine task. Important obligations, such as school or work, may be averted as water is a crucial source of life, Turkana women are forced to give up such obligations in order to ensure survival of their communities.
Women in developing countries and/or Indigenous communities often don’t have access to technology, clean water, or affordable food, which makes fundamental daily tasks less accessible. Even if they do, many of these countries value the ability to connect with their land, and honor their natural resources, and oftentimes that opportunity isn’t available. Considering that women come from all different walks of life, economic situations, and belief systems, it must be recognized that not all their struggles, especially in relation to climate change, are faced equally. That’s why it is essential to maintain a lens of intersectionality when evaluating the social damages and possible solutions related to the climate crisis.
The need to demand for change with an intersectional perspective
Within organizations, no matter their affiliation, it is important to include women in the conversation, and it is essential to value their perspectives in order to work towards intersectional and tangible change -real change that benefits everyone.
Because of this, it is only fitting that the most vulnerable have a voice in driving the very action that can aid protecting themselves and their communities.
In hopes of increasing political and social urgency in responding to the climate crisis, over 100 grassroots female African activists have addressed the underlying issues with the transition to clean energy, something they felt was ignored at this year’s COP. “We support an energy transition, but if it involves children in mines, we are against it, if it involves women getting sick and being exploited, we are against it,” (Koulibaly, 2024). Because Africa holds over 40% of the world’s copper, cobalt, and lithium, all minerals needed for the clean energy movement, this is an especially urgent topic to address.
Considering the perspectives of emarginated demographics is crucial in the fight of the crisis. The previous example highlights just one of the ways in which the contribution of individuals that belong to vulnerable populations can provide efficient insight on how to ensure climate solutions are sustainable and fair for everyone.
Call to action
It is more than clear that women are an essential part of the solution. While The 21rst century has been characterized by an increasing awarness and progress in the fight for women’s rights, there is still a long way ahead. Demanding a greener future goes hand in hand with demanding an improvement for women’s rights and participation everywhere, but especially for women who lead and support the most vulenrable communities around the globe, and epsecially Indigenous women and women in the Global South. Let’s make 2025 a year about advocating for rights of impacted demographics everywhere, and for spreading awarness about the interconnectedness of social, racial, and gender dividies with the climate crisis. Starting conversations, listening, and giving space and a voice to those most impacted is the first step on the path to creating equal and concrete solutions: let’s start walking towards a brighter future where women, and especially women from emarginated communities, have a central role in tackling the climate crisis.
Written by: Sophia Hernandez
Edited & contributed to by: Blaire Curley, Beatrice Bos
This is discussed further in:
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Redpath, G. (2020). The Crucial Intersection of Feminism and Climate Justice | Gonzaga University. [online] www.gonzaga.edu. Available at: https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/stories/2020/11/17/the-crucial-intersection-of-feminism-and-climate-justice.
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