The Impact of Climate Change on Women

It’s Women’s History Month, and for that reason, this blog post covers a topic that has been sitting in my notes for quite some time: The impact of climate change on women. It’s a topic I’ve wanted to explore more deeply, and I knew that my research would confirm what I already suspected - that women are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Facts and Figures First

The primary reason why women are particularly affected by climate change is largely linked to existing socioeconomic inequalities. A few key figures illustrate the scale of the issue (UN Women, UNDP, UN):

• Women are most severely affected by climate change in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and parts of Latin America.

• 80% of people displaced by climate-related disasters are women.

• By 2050, climate change could push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty - 16 million more than the total number of men and boys affected.

• When extreme weather disasters strike, women and children are 14 times more likely to die than men.

  
  

Climate change acts as a “threat multiplier”, worsening gender equality in regions already affected by conflict and instability. Countries report an increase in violence against women, and there’s a study that shows a 28% increase in femicide during heatwaves (2025 UN Spotlight brief). Therefore, climate change also risks reversing progress on human rights and the global fight for gender equality.

Why Women Are More Affected

There are several components that make women more vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Largely because they are the majority of the world’s poor (about 70%), and are highly dependent on natural resources for survival. Women are usually in charge of water and food and are the primary caregivers. As resources such as water become scarcer, women have to travel farther and longer, often needing the help of their daughters, who will have to drop out of school. (UN Women)

Once a natural disaster hits, women have less access to information, financial resources, transportation and other crucial infrastructure. One example of this is the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, which killed 230,000 people, 70% of whom were women. (UNDP)

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, women have less access to relief and health care, which not only affects their health, but also the one of their children. Girls are often pulled out of school to help their families recover from such events. (EIB)

Climate-fuelled conflicts further lead to more sexual violence, human trafficking and child marriages.

Intersectionality

We can’t discuss the impacts of climate change on women without acknowledging that not all women are affected equally. Indigenous women, women with disabilities, older women, LGBTIQ+ people, migrant women, and those living in rural and remote communities face unique challenges. When people are already struggling with inequality and a lack of visibility in their daily lives, natural disasters only aggravate these problems. Humanitarian programs often fail to account for sexual and gender diversity and reinforce patriarchal structures. (UN Women)

Empowering Women in Climate Action

Environmental Stewardship

Since women are more severely affected by the consequences of climate change, they also are at the forefront of the solutions. Indigenous women have always been the stewards of our lands and are fighting for a more respectful relationship with nature. Here is an example that I found on the website of UN Women:

“Take for example the “conchera women” (shell women) of Tumaco, Colombia who, for generations, have been sustainably harvesting a mollusk called piangu for food and income. When they recognized that the destruction of local mangrove forests was destroying the piangu, they came together to create a programme to replant the trees. Not only will the mangroves help preserve the local harvest and traditions, they’ll also filter water, preserve coastlines and absorb carbon.”

Land Rights

Women are responsible for half of global food production, and in developing countries, as much as 80%. They do the majority of the farming, but they usually don’t legally own the land. When women have legal land rights, they are more likely to invest in sustainable farming practices and grow agricultural production. (UN) An example:

“In Côte d'Ivoire, for example, women make up 70%of the agricultural sector, but own only 3 % of the land they cultivate. Using their traditional and labor-intensive methods, women struggled to make a profit producing shea butter, an industry for which the country is well known. When UN Women with local partners, established a program that helped women modernize the process, with an emphasis on reducing deforestation, they were able to scale up production to create a superior product that also allowed them to meet competitive standards in the market place and increase their profit margins.” (United Nations)

The Impact of Microfinancing

Women particularly benefit from microfinancing; they account for up to 85% of microfinance clients. That’s an interesting fact, considering that major commercial banks typically focus on men, isn’t it? It’s a simple business case: the numbers speak for women. Women have much higher repayment rates and contribute a much larger share of their income to the household and children than men. Studies show that the income generated by these microenterprises is reinvested in their children’s education (lower school drop out rates), in healthcare, and in nutrition. There’s even an environmental component to this: Microfinance programs often support green jobs and projects, as well as renewable energy systems. (ILO)

Women in Leadership

At COP29 last year, the UN Climate Change conference, women made up approximately 35% of national delegates, but only 8 of the 78 world leaders participating were women. (UN Women)

Data shows that women in leadership have a positive impact on climate action. The Corporate Knight Sustainable Cities Index shows that 50% of the top 10 cities in sustainability and climate action are led by women. Montreal serves as a good example of a Canadian city with strong climate action that were implemented by former mayor, Valérie Plante. If you want to learn more, I wrote a blog post about the impact of women on cities.

Impact of Consumer Behaviour

Women also have incredible power at the consumer level. In wealthier societies, women drive 70-80% of all purchasing decisions. Furthermore, women tend to recycle more, minimize waste, buy organic products, and conserve water and energy.

What Can You Do?

This topic is disheartening because it combines several issues we face in today’s world. But as always, I would like to conclude with some ideas for action that you can follow if you would like.

• Power of the Purse: Use the power of your money and spend it on woman-led, sustainable brands that prioritize ethical supply chains. While this won’t be possible for every purchase you make, it might work for some products.

• Use your voice: Climate advocacy is more successful if women are at the table. Support local and national female candidates who prioritize the environment.

• Support the Change Makers: Real change happens when women have the financial resources to lead. Consider donating to organizations that support female farmers and entrepreneurs around the world.

• Talk about it: You might think that’s silly and too simple. But we don’t talk nearly enough about the climate crisis and how it affects every aspect of our lives. Raising awareness is a first step.

  
  

In the fight against climate change, it’s important to recognize how differently men and women are affected by it, and a gender-responsive approach is needed to ensure that the benefits of new climate projects, policies and programs are distributed equitably.