Women suffer more from climate change. Policymakers must recognise this
For the first time, Australia’s climate change data will distinguish between men and women. This is long overdue.
Australia is holding the COP31 climate summit in Turkey, but domestically, there are forecasts of a "very tough summer." This El Niño event is expected to bring higher temperatures, dangerous heatwaves, bushfires, and extreme weather. However, one often overlooked risk is social, as climate change impacts different groups of Australians in distinct ways. While climate change is framed as an environmental issue, it also relates to gender, work, housing, health, and domestic violence experiences.
At COP31, nations will be expected to report climate data separately for women and men, rather than combining them into a single total. This recognition is crucial as climate change is a "threat multiplier," amplifying existing inequalities rather than affecting everyone equally. Our research shows that climate change has already had gendered impacts on Australians.
For instance, pregnant women are at higher risk during heatwaves, and intimate partner violence increases with rising temperatures, leading to a 4.7% increase for every one-degree rise in temperature.
Healthcare systems are not yet prepared for climate change, and recent studies found that women are more affected by its health consequences than men. Australians support tailored policy responses based on gender, as three-quarters of people surveyed believe climate policy that accounts for gender is necessary. Concerns vary between genders; for example, men are worried about the renewable energy transition affecting traditionally male-dominated jobs and the increased caregiving responsibilities that may fall to women during disasters.
Women, especially those under 45, feel the increased mental health risks, violence risk, and caregiving responsibilities due to climate change disproportionately affect them more than men. Indigenous women view climate justice as a restorative approach to accessing and being in caring relationships with Country, kin, and family.
Including gender in climate action ensures responses recognize that impacts are felt differently, rather than prioritizing one group over another.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
