Global climate change exacerbates gender inequality: integrating feminism into climate policy6/1/2025 By: Yewen Jiang
Overview Climate change may exacerbate existing gender inequalities, particularly in regions where women already bear the brunt of unpaid care work, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Islands. UN Women projects that in the worst-case climate scenario, rising global temperatures could push as many as 158 million women and girls into extreme poverty by 2050. This increased women’s vulnerability to droughts, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks due to women’s overrepresentation among the impoverished, their reliance on natural resources, and their exclusion from environmental decision-making processes. So, how to mitigate the effect of climate change on gender inequality, specifically the heightened burden on women in rural and vulnerable communities? Key Considerations The Gender Burden of Unpaid Care Work & Health Issues Globally, women are responsible for three-quarters of unpaid care work, taking on 3.2 times more work than men. Consequently, when family members face illnesses due to climate change (e.g., drought), women are primarily responsible for caregiving, which limits their time for economic and social activities. For example, when water is scarce, women are at higher risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Approximately 1.8 billion people worldwide rely on off-site water supplies, and women and girls collect water in 70% of waterless households. As droughts become more severe and rainfall patterns less predictable, 10% of the world's female population lives in areas under high or intense water stress, with the number projected to reach 647 million by 2050. During droughts, collecting water increases the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses for women and girls as household caregivers. In Iraq, women spend three hours a day collecting water. In India, women and girls spend more than 50 minutes gathering water daily, compared to 4 minutes for men and boys. Meanwhile, the Zika virus has been shown to have far-reaching effects on pregnant women and fetuses, increasing their need for long-term care for children with congenital disabilities. Insecurity during environmental crises During environmental crises such as droughts, hurricanes or heat waves, women face increased food insecurity, which tends to be gender specific. Women and girls are more likely to get food last, while men and boys are prioritized, especially during times of food shortages. SDG Action estimates that climate change-induced food insecurity will expose 236 million women and girls to food shortages. Sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, will be one of the worst affected regions, with an additional 105 million female food-insecure people. Meanwhile, drought forces many women and girls into subsistence agriculture and activities, which increases their workload and heightens the risk of mental health problems and violence during crises. In Kiribati, Tonga and other Pacific islands, there was a significant increase in Google searches related to violence against women during overlapping environmental crises, indicating an increase in violence and abuse during such times. Policy Recommendations As climate change exacerbates existing inequalities, policies must address these cross-cutting vulnerabilities to ensure climate equity. First, unpaid care work should be integrated into climate policy through “green jobs” initiatives. Governments should recognize unpaid care work as part of the green economy. Climate-resilient green jobs should be specifically designed for female caregivers, especially in rural and vulnerable areas. On the one hand, compensate and train women to take on sustainable caregiving roles, such as caring for the elderly or sick in climate-impacted areas (e.g. droughts, floods, health crises). On the other hand, unpaid care work should be incorporated into national accounts. Providing government subsidies and tax incentives for employers in the green care sector encourages businesses and local governments to hire women in caregiving roles that contribute to climate adaptation (e.g. health education, and community health workers during droughts). For example, the Philippines institutionalized a Gender and Development Budget (GAD). It requires all government agencies to allocate at least 5% of their budgets to gender equality programs. Second, implementing gender-based disaster relief and caregiving support. Developing disaster relief policies that prioritize female caregivers, such as direct cash transfers and food security programs, to ensure their access to economic assistance during climate crises. Additionally, establishing community-based care networks during disasters with emergency medical supplies, temporary shelters and childcare services. Also, providing temporary financial compensation for women who are unable to work due to their caregiving responsibilities during climate-induced health emergencies or natural disasters. Third, increase women's participation in climate and water governance at the local, national, and international levels in climate policy, especially in water resource management, land use, and disaster preparedness. Policymaking institutions could set up gender quotas of a certain percentage in governance structures. Furthermore, funding should be given to local women's associations involved in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Providing financial and technical support to these groups ensures their leadership in the development of local climate policies. For instance, the Vietnam Women's Union plays a role in gender-responsive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) by: 1) developing guidelines for community-based gender mainstreaming 2) mandating minimum representation of women in the assessment and planning process 3) conducting capacity-building programs to teach life-saving skills (swimming, first aid). Sources
0 Comments
By: Leshi Zhou & Kejiao Ji Developing countries currently face unprecedented pressures due to rising global temperatures, demanding an immediate reform of global climate finance systems. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), nearly 200 countries were brought together in Baku, Azerbaijan, to agree on a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. This agreement serves as the primary climate finance mechanism under the Paris Agreement framework and projects a need for $1.3 trillion USD annually by 2035 to support climate action in developing countries. Moreover, there will be $300 billion USD in yearly funding by 2035, with developed nations leading the way with public and private funds and developing countries encouraged to pay willingly. This difference increases dissatisfaction in several developing countries, stressing actual global climate finance system weaknesses. The main challenge facing climate finance today is the conflict between sources of finance and fairness. Developed countries favour expanding their sources of finance, particularly by increasing private capital participation to reduce public funding. Developing countries argue that they prioritize public funding, primarily through increased grants. This divergence arises from the essential difference between the two forms of capital: private capital, or market money, seeks economic returns and tends to invest in profitable projects, such as renewable energy, whereas governments typically offer public funding through grants or low-interest loans, with primary consideration for climate needs rather than economic returns. This disparity could exacerbate the unfair impacts of climate change, leading to increased investment in areas with a better economic basis. Areas vulnerable to climate change, on the other hand, face significant financial challenges. The financing argument focuses on whether climate-supporting finance targets climate demand or economic interests. The global environment has possibilities that require changes. In response to these challenges, COP29 launched a number of important initiatives. The first was the establishment of the Baku Initiative on Climate Finance, Investment and Trade (BICFIT), which aims to put finance, investment and trade at the seat of the climate change agenda. BICFIT will provide a global platform that is divided into national, regional, and subregional platforms. It will promote climate investment and explore and strengthen the integration of global climate finance, investment and trade into national climate policies and development plans. Reforming the climate finance framework requires concrete action. Establish a differentiated mechanism to allocate funds, prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable countries. This policy must ensure that funds operate equitably, and at the same time track the progress of the implementation of the system to improve the transparency and efficiency of the use of funds. In addition, it strengthens the capacity of developing countries and supports them in developing and implementing climate projects that are more responsive to their specific needs. Achieving global climate justice is also important. Fairness is related to needs, focusing on present and future needs and levels of impact: who needs funding the most? Justice is related to responsibility and is more concerned with historical responsibilities and rights: who is responsible for past climate problems? In the NCQG, fairness ensures that the most vulnerable countries (e.g., small island states) are prioritized for financial support. Justice requires developed countries to have greater responsibility and capacity to take on more financial responsibility rather than leaving developing countries at risk. It is not only about the effectiveness of climate change moderation and resilience but also about equity and fairness in global development. Only by ensuring that financial support truly benefits the regions and groups most in need, balancing efficiency and equity, and promoting cooperation between developed and developing countries can we achieve the climate goals in the Paris Agreement and promote global climate governance in a more just direction. The COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, strengthened climate finance architecture, building upon the momentum of Loss and Damage Fund negotiations. These reforms align with global climate objectives and principles of climate justice. Unprecedented commitment toward bridging the financial gap builds climate resilience for vulnerable nations. The final step is to improve how we manage funds. Monitoring systems should be open and transparent, and strict rules should ensure proper money use. Developing countries should have more say in decisions to ensure their needs are addressed. Good for Bills and Great for Climate: Recommendations to Improve Heat Pump Uptake in Canada30/11/2024 By: Georgia Maxwell & Thomas Yue
Overview Heat pumps are an impressive technology that offer the most efficient option for heating and cooling homes. They are widely available today and can reduce household carbon footprints by 36-65%, depending on how clean the grid is. Not only are heat pumps an impactful decarbonization method, but they also help save money on heating bills. Depending on the type of heat pump, homeowners can save between $700 to $3500 a year in heating costs. Despite the fact that heat pumps are a win for the environment and Canadians’ wallets, only 7% of Canadian households use this technology today1. If this number grew to 50%, Canada could slash its carbon emissions from anywhere between 18 to 33 million metric tons of CO2 per year. That’s a pretty big dent, and even bigger when you consider that heating residential homes and commercial buildings accounts for 13% of our GHG emissions today. Indeed, the Government of Canada has noted that heat pumps are essential to achieving the country’s 2050 Net Zero goal. According to one Net Zero pathway scenario, heat pumps will need to account for 50% of residential heating by 2050. To do so, we will have to increase our heat pump usage by over 600%. So what are the barriers to getting there? 
By: Yifei Wang
In the era of energy transition, governments are not only being urged to pursue clean energy but are also striving to secure control over the critical supply chains that underpin it. The supply chains of the energy sector form a complex system encompassing transmission, storage, and consumption. However, regional conflicts and geopolitical obstacles, such as escalating trade frictions and resource nationalism, expose significant vulnerabilities. The urgency to build resilient and sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials has never been greater to ensure the success of the energy transition.  By: Kanchan Kargwal
Imagine a world where those most impacted by climate change—the ones who contributed the least—are left to cope alone. This isn’t just morally wrong; it’s a recipe for global instability. As the climate crisis escalates, urgent action on climate finance is more critical than ever. But the questions remain: Who should pay, and why? |
