Women—who contribute the least to global warming—are suffering its worst effects, and their voices remain largely unheard. Rising temperatures, scarce water, and crop failures disproportionately affect women, particularly those responsible for feeding their families. Food insecurity risks double for female farmers. Natural disasters increase the spread of diseases like malaria, dengue, and HIV. Women often fall prey to gender-based violence during and after crises.

Economic contributions are often made by men who migrate for work, while women assume more farming and disaster-response roles, without receiving increased support or resources. Women in agriculture—60% in Asia, 80% in sub-Saharan Africa—have the least access to land, credit, and technology, making them particularly vulnerable to climate shocks.

Women have vital local environmental knowledge—from seed-saving in Odisha to forest protection in the Chipko movement—but remain sidelined in policymaking. Without gender-sensitive climate policies, adaptation efforts often widen inequalities instead of closing them.

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