Women and Gender Inclusion

Research shows that women, particularly poor women and their families, are impacted by climate change at an alarmingly higher rate than their counterparts. Impacts such as high water scarcity and rising sea levels undermine daily livelihoods and food security for women all across the Pacific-Asia region. Some estimates suggest that eight-in-10 people who have been displaced by the effects of climate change are women.¹ 

While women are central to the impacts of climate change, they are also critical to envisioning peacebuilding solutions. We know that women’s involvement in peacebuilding heightens the likelihood of agreement lasting by 20% in the first two years. Women’s participation also allows for there to be a shift in overall peacebuilding dynamics, broadening of the issues discussed, increases the chances of community buy-in, and increase the possibility of addressing the root causes of conflict. When women’s voices are at the table, we are optimally poised for peace.²

Women are uniquely positioned to resolve conflicts and build social cohesion to ultimately forge a collective response to the ever-more dangerous slow and sudden impacts of climate change. The dual perspective women have to be both at the forefront of climate change movements and climate change impacts will be critically important to building our work at the intersection of climate and peace.

¹  Staff, TIME. “Meet 15 Women Leading the Fight Against Climate Change.” Time, Time, 12 Sept. 2019, time.com/5669038/women-climate-change-leaders/.

² “Post-Conflict Environmental Peacebuilding.” United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Programme, 2019.