Anaika Prasanna
8 August 2025

In Bangladesh, women have to walk almost five kilometers every day to fetch water for their families. At home, we just have to fill a cup from our jug or tap. Everyone knows the effects of climate change: melting ice caps and endangered animals. But do you know what else rises alongside sea levels? Gender inequality.

So, what is climate change? In short, it refers to long-term changes in weather and temperature patterns. Examples include erratic weather conditions, acid rain, increased wildfires, and less snowfall. While climate change can occur naturally, since the 20th century, human activities—especially industrialization, fossil fuel burning, livestock farming, and pollution—have drastically worsened it.

While we often focus on its environmental impacts, climate change also goes hand in hand with another global issue: gender inequality. It affects the economic livelihoods of women and increases the burden of resources and care work.

For instance, did you know that women are less likely to survive natural disasters in rural areas where gender inequality is widespread? Many lack basic skills like literacy or swimming, and in some cultures, women cannot leave the house without a man’s permission—leaving them vulnerable and dependent after a disaster. And if they do survive, life only gets harder. Female climate refugees are often more at risk of sexual abuse and trafficking and face more discrimination when trying to access aid.

Climate change also increases the resource burden on women. In many parts of the world, they are responsible for gathering water, food, and fuel for their families. As climate events like droughts and wildfires become more common, these resources become scarcer, forcing women to travel even further. This can lead to girls dropping out of school to help, continuing the cycle of female illiteracy.

In many regions, women aren’t allowed to own the land they work on. According to Concern Worldwide, while women make up 43% of the agricultural workforce, only 15% own the land they cultivate. This creates a situation where women do the labor but receive none of the financial security. In fact, many work as unpaid family workers. Climate change then worsens already difficult working conditions by reducing or destroying arable land, making their labor even more exhausting and unrewarded.

Studies have also shown that during heatwaves, the rate of feminicide increases by nearly 28%. On a day-to-day level, women face greater health risks. Food and water shortages caused by climate change lead to poor nutrition, which can affect pregnancies and maternal and child health. Women are also the ones cooking over unsafe stoves, inhaling fumes, and handling household chores under increasingly dangerous conditions.

In some cultures, there’s even a saying: “women eat last.” This means that after working long hours, women are often the last to eat and receive the least nutrition. When food becomes even more scarce due to climate issues, women are hit hardest. Over 30% of women globally now suffer from anemia, in part due to climate-related factors. Clean water shortages also create health risks—especially during menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth. When women must prioritize their family’s water needs over their own, they are left in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

So, what can we do?

The first step is to empower women. Increasing literacy rates and teaching basic life skills can help women better navigate vulnerable situations caused by climate change. More access to clean water and food distribution centers in climate-affected areas would reduce the labor burden on women and allow more girls to stay in school.

Charities like ActionAid empower women to lead disaster relief and rebuilding programs. In Bangladesh, for example, women led cyclone recovery efforts. IFAD’s refinancing initiative ensures that 50% of its beneficiaries are women, offering social services like health insurance, financial aid, and support for alternative livelihoods.

Support grassroots women’s organizations. Donate to climate resilience programs. Advocate for gender-inclusive climate policies that lead to equitable outcomes.

Because the climate crisis doesn’t just threaten our planet—it deepens the cracks in the inequalities that already exist. 

Check out these resources to learn more!