5 Ways Climate Change Disproportionately Impacts Women
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. How Climate Change Worsens Water Scarcity: Impacts on Women
- 2. Why Women Farmers Are Most Vulnerable to Climate Change
- 3. The Disproportionate Health Risks Climate Change Poses to Women
- 4. The Economic Impact of Climate Change on Women
- 5. The Hidden Burden: How Climate Change Increases Women’s Unpaid Work
- Empowering Women in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts
- What’s on your mind?
Learn 5 key ways climate change disproportionately impacts women and what we can do to address it.
Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in May 2023 and was updated in April 2026.
Climate change affects everyone, but not equally. Women and girls, particularly those in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, bear a disproportionate burden of the climate crisis. From droughts that reduce water availability to floods that destroy harvests, the effects of climate change are felt by women first and hardest.
According to UN Women, up to 158 million more women and girls could be pushed into poverty by 2050 as a direct result of climate change. Here are five ways women are impacted, and why it matters.
1. How Climate Change Worsens Water Scarcity: Impacts on Women
In many parts of the world, women are typically responsible for collecting water for their households. Women and girls are primarily responsible for water collection in seven out of 10 households. As climate change leads to water scarcity in some areas, women must travel farther to find water, increasing their workload and leaving them with less time for education or other income-generating activities.
2. Why Women Farmers Are Most Vulnerable to Climate Change
Women are often responsible for food production and farming activities. Increases in extreme weather events due to climate change can negatively impact crop yields, decreasing income and leading to food insecurity for women and their families. For example, a United Nations report found that women are less likely than men to see their work demands decrease during periods of extreme heat.
Women farmers often work on small-scale farms and rely on natural resources for their livelihoods, making them highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Additionally, women farmers often have limited access to resources and information, such as credit, land ownership, and technology, that could help them adapt to the changing climate.
3. The Disproportionate Health Risks Climate Change Poses to Women
Women are more vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change. Heatwaves, floods, and hurricanes can result in injury or death, especially for women who lack access to adequate shelter and healthcare. Additionally, these events can lead to the spread of disease, as contaminated water and damaged infrastructure can increase the risk of infection.
Women are also more likely to face violence and exploitation as they travel further to find resources in times of scarcity. Additionally, climate-induced disasters can exacerbate inequalities, making women more vulnerable to violence. Finally, research indicates that women and girls are up to 14 times more likely to be harmed during a disaster.
4. The Economic Impact of Climate Change on Women
Women are disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of climate change, as they often work in industries that are more vulnerable to climate change impacts. The Asian Development Bank states that, due to low rates of women’s labor-force participation and their often self-employment in the informal economy, women are more likely than men to live in the poorest households. This makes them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which can also exacerbate inequalities and limit women’s economic opportunities.
As the areas mentioned previously are affected by climate change, they have economic consequences. Women may have limited access to resources such as land, credit, and technology, hindering their ability to adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts. As water becomes scarcer, women may have to spend more time and energy collecting it, which can limit their opportunities to engage in income-generating activities and education. Women are often the primary caregivers for children, the sick, and the elderly, and are more likely to be exposed to health risks associated with climate change.
5. The Hidden Burden: How Climate Change Increases Women’s Unpaid Work
Household chores, including collecting water and caring for family members, often fall to women and girls. When climate change increases their workload and limits their access to resources, they may have less time for education and skill-building opportunities, which can perpetuate cycles of poverty and inequality.
Natural disasters and extreme weather events can damage schools and disrupt educational activities, leading to missed classes and decreased access to education for girls and young women. In fact, these events already disrupt the education of approximately 37.5 million students each year. And more than 200 million adolescent girls living in poverty face greater risk from these extreme weather events.
And in some cases, climate change can force families to relocate, disrupting children’s education.
A Different Way to Make A Difference.
Discover how TechnoServe bridges the gap between “thinking big” and practical business solutions that help hardworking people move from poverty to prosperity around the world.
Empowering Women in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts
Women are essential players in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Unfortunately, they are often disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change due to their social and economic vulnerability. However, women also have unique knowledge and perspectives that can help shape effective climate change policies and interventions.
By supporting women in areas such as water management, agriculture, health, and education, we can help them protect their livelihoods, families, and communities from the impacts of climate change. Ultimately, promoting women’s participation is critical for achieving sustainable development and a more resilient future.
FAQs
What’s on your mind?
How does climate change disproportionately affect women?
Women are disproportionately affected by climate change because existing inequalities make them more vulnerable. This vulnerability is exacerbated by limited access to critical resources such as land rights, credit, and disaster response systems.
How does climate change specifically affect women farmers?
Women farmers are highly vulnerable because they generally manage smaller plots, have less secure land tenure, and have poor access to credit or climate information. As droughts intensify and rainfall becomes unpredictable, they lack the resources, like drought-resistant seeds and irrigation, needed to adapt their crops.
How many women are displaced by climate change?
An estimated 80% of all people displaced by climate change are women and girls, making them the majority of those affected. The long-term financial consequences are severe; by 2050, climate impacts could push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty.
