LINKS BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE and WOMENS HEALTH & RIGHTS

New research: Gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and climate change are linked

AN EVIDENCE REVIEW ~ Angie Dazé and Clare Church, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), January 2021

We know that a gender-equal world would be wealthier, healthier, more peaceful, and more productive. We also know that to realize that vision and reap the benefits of a gender-equal world, we need to identify and address how interconnected climate change issues and the health and rights of girls and women are. Gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and climate change issues are inextricably linked.

Climate change risks increasing social, including gender, inequalities. In addition, as global temperatures rise, extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves particularly threaten the health and rights of girls and women. In turn, gender, sexuality, age, wealth, indigeneity, and race are all determining factors in the vulnerability to climate change.

While growing evidence proves that climate change issues are not gender neutral, there remain considerable gaps in related gender-disaggregated data and gender analyses in this space. More specifically, the linkages between climate change and SRHR have received little attention to-date. However, recognizing these links is key to creating an effective adaptive response to climate change, while also improving gender equality and access to SRHR services.

This evidence review is designed to be used by decision-makers and climate change, humanitarian, and gender equality advocates to better understand the linkages between sectors and align efforts to generate effective policies and programs. Drawing on published literature as well as key informant interviews, this evidence review explores: (i) the impact of climate change on SRHR and (ii) the linkages between climate action, including adaptation and mitigation, and SRHR.

The evidence review also explores the evidence through an intersectional lens. Girls and women have numerous identities in addition to their gender, and systemic discrimination on the basis of these is often multiple and intersecting. Understanding how compounding crises and intersecting identities shape vulnerability and resilience to climate change and SRHR is necessary to make sure climate actions do not compound the inequalities.

https://womendeliver.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Climate-Change-Report.pdf