“Empowering Women in Climate Action: Addressing Gender Disparities at COP28”

The upcoming 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, set to take place in Dubai, is poised to be a critical moment in addressing global climate challenges. One key focus of the discussions will be the differential impacts of climate change on various demographic groups, with a particular emphasis on the disproportionate effects on women from marginalized communities.

Research has shown that women are more vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change compared to men. A comprehensive analysis of 130 peer-reviewed studies revealed that 68% of these studies found women to be more affected by health impacts associated with climate change. For example, women and girls are more likely to die in heatwaves in countries like India, France, and China, as well as in tropical cyclones in Bangladesh and the Philippines. Rising temperatures have also been linked to higher rates of stillbirth and the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and Zika virus, which can have adverse effects on maternal and neonatal health.

Displacement due to climate change further exacerbates the vulnerability of women, with an estimated 80% of individuals displaced by climate change being women. This puts them at a higher risk of experiencing violence, including sexual violence. Women in low and lower-middle-income countries, such as India, often rely heavily on natural resources for their livelihoods, making them particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change on agriculture and other sectors.

Despite these challenges, women also play a crucial role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Studies have shown that when women are involved in decision-making at both local and national levels, better outcomes in climate change adaptation and mitigation are achieved. Increasing women’s representation in national parliaments has led to the adoption of more stringent climate change policies and lower emissions. Women’s participation in natural resource management at the local level has also been associated with better resource governance and conservation outcomes.

The upcoming COP28 summit presents a unique opportunity to address gender disparities in climate impacts and to champion women’s empowerment as a key aspect of the global climate agenda. By recognizing and acting upon the different ways in which climate change affects men and women, especially those from marginalized communities, we can work towards a more equitable and effective global response to the climate crisis. This will help ensure a future where justice and sustainability can coexist harmoniously.