Gender and Climate Change: How Women Are Leading the Way in Climate Resilience

Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is also a social and gendered one. Its impacts are disproportionately felt by women, particularly those in rural and marginalized communities. At the same time, women are emerging as powerful agents of change, pioneering climate adaptation and mitigation efforts across the globe. By understanding the gendered dimensions of climate change and empowering women, we can create more effective and inclusive solutions to the climate crisis.

The Gendered Impact of Climate Change

Climate change exacerbates existing inequalities, with women often bearing the brunt of its effects due to their social and economic roles. In many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries, women are responsible for securing food, water, and energy for their families. These roles put them at the forefront of climate-related challenges, such as droughts, floods, and natural disasters, which disrupt access to vital resources.

For example, in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, women primarily work in small-scale farming. Erratic weather patterns caused by climate change, such as irregular rainfall and increased droughts, threaten agricultural yields. With food production faltering, women face heightened challenges in feeding their families and securing livelihoods. Furthermore, when disasters strike, women are more likely to be displaced, experience violence, and lose income, deepening their vulnerability.

Despite being disproportionately affected, women often lack representation in climate decision-making at local, national, and international levels. Policies and strategies designed without their input fail to address the specific challenges they face, making climate solutions less effective. However, numerous case studies reveal how women are becoming leaders in climate action, spearheading initiatives promoting sustainability and resilience.

Women-Led Climate Solutions: Case Studies from Around the World

1. Bangladesh: Floating Gardens for Food Security

In Bangladesh, where rising sea levels and frequent floods devastate rural communities, women have developed innovative agricultural solutions. Through the Shiree Project, women in flood-prone areas built floating vegetable gardens on water hyacinths and other buoyant plants. These gardens allow them to grow crops during the flood season, ensuring food security and providing a source of income. This project highlights women’s adaptability to climate challenges and the importance of involving them in resource management.

2. Kenya: Sustainable Energy and Women’s Empowerment

In rural Kenya, traditional cooking methods, such as using wood, have negative environmental and health impacts. Women spend hours gathering firewood, which increases their exposure to gender-based violence and health risks from indoor air pollution. The Improved Cookstove Initiative empowered women by providing energy-efficient cookstoves that use less fuel and reduce emissions. Women were trained to produce and distribute these stoves, which improved household health and offered economic opportunities. This initiative underscores how gender-sensitive energy projects can transform environmental outcomes and women’s lives.

3. India: Water Management in Drought-Prone Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, India, women are leading efforts to tackle water scarcity exacerbated by climate change. Through the Tarun Bharat Sangh (TBS) initiative, women’s groups revived traditional rainwater harvesting techniques, constructing earthen dams known as Johads to capture rainwater. This restored water availability for households and agriculture, reducing the burden on women who previously spent hours fetching water. By involving women in water management, the initiative improved access to resources and empowered women socially and economically.

4. Nepal: Women as Leaders in Climate Adaptation

In Nepal’s mountainous regions, women are at the forefront of community-based climate adaptation. Through the Hariyo Ban Program, women’s groups engage in reforestation, sustainable land management, and conservation agriculture to protect their communities from landslides and soil erosion. These efforts help stabilize the environment while enhancing agricultural yields. The program demonstrates that training women in climate-smart agriculture strengthens community resilience and establishes them as leaders in climate action.

5. Pacific Islands: Women and Climate-Induced Migration

Rising sea levels threaten entire communities in small island nations like Kiribati and Tuvalu. Women’s groups have taken the lead in preparing for climate-induced migration as part of the government’s Migration with Dignity policy. These groups advocate for women’s land rights, healthcare, and education in new resettlement areas. Women have also created community support networks to protect themselves from exploitation and ensure their voices are heard in land negotiations. This case shows how gender-responsive policies can safeguard women’s rights during climate-related displacement.

Why Gender Matters in Climate Action

The case studies from Bangladesh, Kenya, India, Nepal, and the Pacific Islands reveal a common thread: when women are included in climate action, the results are more sustainable and equitable. Women bring unique knowledge and perspectives, particularly in managing natural resources and adapting to changing environmental conditions. Their roles in agriculture, water management, and energy production make them indispensable to climate resilience.

However, despite their critical contributions, women often lack the financial resources, land rights, and political representation necessary to participate fully in climate governance. Addressing these barriers is essential to creating gender-responsive climate policies that account for women’s needs and leverage their leadership.

Moving Forward: Gender-Responsive Climate Policies

To ensure effective climate action, policymakers must adopt gender-responsive approaches that recognize and address how climate change affects men and women. Key strategies include:

• Empowering women in agriculture: Providing women with access to land, credit, and training in climate-smart agricultural practices can improve food security and enhance climate resilience.
• Inclusive disaster response: Gender-sensitive disaster preparedness and recovery plans can protect women from gender-based violence and ensure their specific needs, such as healthcare and child support, are met.
• Promoting women’s leadership: Ensuring women’s representation in climate decision-making at all levels is crucial for developing policies that reflect diverse perspectives and needs.

Conclusion

Climate change is not gender-neutral, and neither should climate solutions. Women are on the front lines of climate impacts but are also at the forefront of climate resilience. Empowering women and adopting gender-responsive policies ensures that climate action is inclusive, effective, and sustainable. Women’s leadership is vital to overcoming the challenges of climate change and building a more equitable and resilient future for all.