Climate Change
Who is affected the most?

Globally

The impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale.

Rising sea levels are increasing the risk of flooding which destroy homes and livelihoods.

Everyone has experienced global climate change in one way or another.
Source: United Nations (www.un.org)

Effects

Extreme heat is one major effect of climate change. With extreme heat, diseases spread faster, making it harder for health care systems to keep up.

People in poverty are experiencing even more hardships that are exacerbated in such conditions.
Source: United Nations (www.un.org)
But what group is affected the most?

It's Women

Women are affected more than other genders.

Not only is this the case in under developed countries – women in the U.S. and in other “developed” countries are experiencing the effects of climate change.

In the U.S.

Climate-related hazards, including extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires, have been linked to certain health problems such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and even miscarriage.

Globally, 1 million infant deaths each year are associated with unclean births, due to water supply issues. Infections account for 26% of neonatal deaths and 11% of maternal mortality.
Sources: EPA.gov, Water For People


Pregnancy &
Childbirth

1 out of 10 infants in 2019, born in the United States was born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy completed) due to a mother's exposure to extreme heat.
Source: EPA.gov
A study conducted after Hurricane Katrina found pregnant women who had severe hurricane experiences were at a significantly greater risk for PTSD, depression, and other mental health issues.
Source: EPA.gov

Domestic Violence

Extreme weather events resulting from climate change can lead to an increase in gender-based violence. Victims of domestic violence after a natural disaster are often isolated with an abuser.

In 2017 domestic violence calls dropped significantly during hurricane Harvey.
Reports of domestic Violence in Texas 2017
The number of victims who sought help from a crisis center in Houston doubled after Hurricane Harvey. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, rates of domestic violence tripled.
Homicides in Texas in 2017 & Post Harvey
66% of Post-Harvey murders were women
Sources: The Hill, Women's Media Center, Texas Council on Family Violence

Care Taking

Worldwide Average
+2.4h/day more than men.
Unpaid care work, primarily borne by women and girls and the climate emergency we face, may appear unrelated, but they are inextricably linked.
Time spent on unpaid care and domestic work.
Note: Data was collected for each country on different years (2001-2020).
Sources: The World Bank - Sustainable Development Goals 2023, UN Women, International Labour Organization
When care taking, sourcing water, cooking or cleaning, women and girls lose valuable time from their education, work, and leisure. More than boys and men.
Source: Water For People

Water Shortages

Women are affected by failures in the global water system.

When 1.8 billion people live in households without water supplies on the premises, women and girls aged 15 and older are primarily responsible for water collection in 7 out of 10 such households.
Sources: Unicef.org, Who.int (World Health Organization)
Women and girls spend an average of almost 4 hours a day collecting water, that’s 200 million hours globally.

In Afar, Ethiopia, 13-year-old Aysha trudges eight hours, round trip, every day to collect water for herself and her family.

Those without access to toilets spend an extra hour per day just so they can go to the toilet, that’s 250 million hours globally.

In India, researchers found that among women without proper toilet access, more than 21% reported holding in their urine and more than 26% said they modify their meals to avoid using the toilets at night.
Sources: Water For People, Unicef USA
During droughts women and girls make longer journeys to collect water.

Therefore they are exposed to increased risks of gender-based violence, as climate change exacerbates existing conflicts, inequalities, and vulnerabilities.
Source: Water For People
Case Study: In Cambodia, changes in aridity and rainfall affect access to clean drinking water.
Note: * Indicates improved water source. Clusters are classified as arid if aridity index values fall in the bottom 25% of all values, and humid if aridity index values fall in the top 25% of all values.

Source: UN Women


Child Marriage

Droughts appear to be aggravating child marriage rates in poor countries like Cambodia.

1 in 5 girls in Cambodia are child brides. In many cases, families marry off their daughters as a coping mechanism to deal with poverty. These rates are much higher in the poorest households.
Source: UN Women


But in Parliament
Where are the Women?

Diversity is central to good decision making around climate change. Yet, in 2022 at the COP27 Summit on climate change only 7 women out of 110 officials were present.

"The most affected are the least represented."
Sources: Energy Monitor, Climate Champions

Resiliency

As environmental stewards, women have learned how to cope with and adapt to climate change. In developing countries, they produce even up to 80% of food.
Source: UN.org
Women find strength as the first responders in disasters, rescuing children, elderly, persons with disabilities, and other community members, and informing local authorities and emergency teams.
Source: UN.org
Women are more likely to recycle, minimize waste, buy organic food and eco-labeled products, and save water and energy in the household. By leading behavior change and consumer attitudes, women can drive change across sectors.
Source: UN.org
Women play a key role in driving change as consumers, workers, political and business leaders — but we need more women in parliamentary positions discussing issues of climate change.

Activism & Leadership

Women championing climate change issues should seek out and be appointed into leadership positions when decisions are made on climate change.

These leaders will then have the platform to bring attention to, and make decisions around, the inequalities women face due to global warming.

Understand the Data

Sex-disaggregated data — data collected and tabulated separately for women and men is vital for fair reporting on climate issues affecting women.

Policy researchers, activists and political organizations need to understand that without this clear delineation of the data we get a very different picture.
Source: Data Journalism

Vote for Women!

Consider supporting the work of local women-led organizations, enterprises, and cooperatives taking action against climate change.

Use your voice and vote to hold leaders accountable and to press for commitments that build an equitable and enduring future.
Source: UN Women


Mission:
Strong girls make strong women everywhere!
Climate change inequalities can be addressed.

Taking Action is Making an Impact

Give power and platforms to the next generation of earth champions by reading and sharing the stories and work of women and girls on the front lines of climate change.


#womenforwomen #womenfightingclimatechange #womenclimateactivist #climatechangewarrier


Neven Armanios. Storytelling with Data, Spring 2024. The New School, Parsons School of Design.