Intensifying Climate Crisis Correlated with Increase in Gender-Based Aggression

Intensifying Climate Crisis Correlated with Increase in Gender-Based Aggression

In a world where the impacts of climate change are increasingly evident, a lesser-known but equally critical issue is emerging: a rise in gender-based violence (GBV). According to Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Climate Change, the role of women in climate action "cannot be ignored."

The United Nations Spotlight Initiative report has issued a stark warning: climate change is fueling gender-based violence around the world. While climate change does not directly cause GBV, it acts as a "threat multiplier" that exacerbates existing social and economic drivers of violence.

One of the key ways climate change contributes to an increase in violence against women and girls is by exacerbating existing inequalities. Climate change intensifies gender-based inequalities by increasing economic and social pressures on households, leading to more frequent and severe instances of violence.

Resource scarcity and conflict are another area of concern. Climate-related scarcity of resources, such as water and food, can lead to conflicts over these resources, further endangering women and girls who are already vulnerable to violence.

Migration and displacement due to climate change also pose significant risks. Displaced individuals are often vulnerable to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and abuse. In Hawaii, wildfires in Lahaina, Maui in 2023 led to a surge in sexual exploitation and intimate partner violence among Filipino migrant women workers.

Climate-related economic instability can exacerbate financial insecurity, increasing the likelihood of violence against women and girls. Moreover, climate-related disasters can lead to increased exposure to violence during and after these events, including sexual assault and intimate partner violence.

Climate change often reinforces patriarchal norms by increasing the reliance on traditional gender roles, further marginalizing women and girls and increasing their vulnerability to violence.

Studies predict that intimate partner violence could increase by 4.7% for every 1°C rise in global temperature, with up to 10% of cases potentially being caused by climate change by 2090. Climate change can also lead to an increase in extreme forms of violence, including femicide, trafficking, child marriage, and rape as a weapon of war.

Women from Indigenous communities, women from climate-vulnerable regions, rural smallholder farmers, the urban poor, and those facing intersecting forms of discrimination such as disability, sexual orientation or age are at risk of increased violence.

Addressing GBV is crucial for achieving sustainable climate outcomes. Just 0.04% of climate-related development funding is geared towards tackling gender equality. Romina Khurshid Alam emphasized the importance of women's full representation in climate decision-making to avoid sidelining or forgetting critical issues like GBV.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has stated that women and girl human rights defenders, women journalists, and women who run for or hold public office and political decision-making positions are often subjected to gender-based violence. Violence against women and girls is often referred to as a "shadow pandemic."

In the Horn of Africa region, climate change-induced extreme drought has triggered profound food insecurity, pushing families to resort to marrying off "girls as young as twelve to men more than five times their age." The report warns that for women and girls already suffering from violence, the severity and forms this violence takes could increase in the future.

Support for environmental organizations is crucial to amplifying their efforts and driving positive change in addressing the climate crisis and GBV. By working together, we can create a safer, more equitable world for all.

1. The role of women in climate action cannot be ignored, as they are critical in combating the climate crisis.
2. The United Nations Spotlight Initiative report has warned that climate change is fueling a rise in gender-based violence (GBV) worldwide.
3. Climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing social and economic drivers of violence, including GBV.
4. Addressing GBV is crucial for achieving sustainable climate outcomes, but only 0.04% of climate-related development funding is geared towards tackling gender equality.
5. Climate change intensifies gender-based inequalities by increasing economic and social pressures on households, leading to more instances of violence.
6. Resource scarcity and conflict are areas of concern, as climate-related scarcity of resources, such as water and food, can lead to conflicts over these resources, further endangering vulnerable women and girls.
7. Integrating environmental protection, such as promoting renewable energy and eco-friendly practices, into our health-and-wellness routines can help reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate the impacts of climate change, which in turn may help decrease GBV.
8. Studies predict that intimate partner violence could increase by 4.7% for every 1°C rise in global temperature, with climate change potentially causing up to 10% of cases by 2090.
9. Women from marginalized communities, including Indigenous communities, rural smallholder farmers, the urban poor, and those facing intersecting forms of discrimination, are at a higher risk of increased violence due to climate change.

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