
We cannot protect the planet without addressing gender inequality.
Women and girls bear much of the brunt of the effects of climate change, intensifying existing gender disparities and posing unique threats to their wellbeing, economic security, and physical safety.
Across the globe, women rely heavily on natural resources, but often lack adequate access and control over them. In many communities, they shoulder a disproportionate burden in securing essentials like food, water, and fuel.
When faced with unpredictable rainfall or prolonged droughts, women—both as agricultural labourers and as those responsible for household sustenance—must work even harder to secure income and resources. This increased strain frequently extends to young girls, who often sacrifice their education to assist their mothers in meeting these growing challenges.
Although women and girls worldwide face disproportionate consequences from climate change, these impacts are far from uniform.
An intersectional feminist perspective reveals how overlapping inequalities compound climate risks, making certain groups particularly vulnerable. Indigenous and Afro-descendant women and girls, older women, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, women and girls with disabilities, migrant women, and those in rural, remote, conflict-affected, or disaster-prone regions face heightened threats, as structural discrimination and systemic barriers intensify their exposure to environmental hazards.
The climate crisis is also considered a “threat multiplier” by the United Nations, meaning it amplifies existing social, economic, political, and gender-based inequalities—acting as a force that deepens vulnerabilities. It fuels issues such as conflict-related sexual violence, human trafficking, and child marriage.
In the wake of disasters, women face higher mortality rates and greater risks of injury due to long-standing gender disparities that hinder access to information, mobility, decision-making power, resources, and training.
Matcha Phorn-in is a lesbian feminist humanitarian activist who works to empower stateless Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTIQ+ people in Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, and Tak provinces. She poignantly notes, “If you are invisible in everyday life, your needs will not be thought of, let alone addressed, in a crisis situation.”
The exclusion of marginalized communities from climate leadership isn’t an oversight, but a structural failure that must be amended.
Climate change policies that fail to address the intersection of climate and gender will exacerbate inequalities before resolving any environmental issues. A just climate policy must prioritize funding and support for women-led environmental initiatives, recognize traditional ecological knowledge, and ensure decision-making spaces include the communities most affected.
The fight against climate change isn’t only about reducing emissions—it’s about ensuring the transition to a sustainable future is fair and equitable. Addressing gender inequality isn’t optional—it’s essential to protecting this planet for generations to come.
Cordelia is a fourth-year Political Studies student and one of The Journal’s QTBIPOC Advisory Board Members.
Tags
climate, climate crisis, Gender, Policy
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s)-in-Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.