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A recent report issued by the UN Spotlight Initiative warns of the escalating connection between climate change and gender-based violence. The findings indicate that the ongoing climate crisis amplifies the social and economic pressures that contribute to rising instances of violence against women and girls.
Key factors identified in the report, such as extreme weather patterns, displacement, food scarcity, and economic instability, are all linked to heightened levels of gender-based violence. Vulnerable communities, particularly those already facing systemic inequalities, bear the brunt of these impacts, making women more susceptible to violent acts.
According to the study, each incremental rise of 1°C in global temperatures correlates with a 4.7 percent increase in intimate partner violence (IPV). If the planet experiences a 2°C increase, an additional 40 million women and girls are projected to face IPV annually by the year 2090. This number could more than double under a scenario of 3.5°C warming.
The Spotlight Initiative, a collaboration between the European Union and United Nations aimed at eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls, underscores the necessity for climate responses to address issues of rights, safety, and justice to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability.
A ‘shadow pandemic’
The report highlights that gender-based violence has reached epidemic levels worldwide. It states that over one billion women, or at least one in three, have suffered from physical, sexual, or psychological abuse during their lives. However, these statistics might not fully capture the situation, as only about seven percent of survivors report such incidents to authorities.
Evidence from the Spotlight Initiative points to an alarming trend of increased violence following climate-related disasters. In just the year 2023, 93.1 million individuals were impacted by significant weather events and earthquakes, with around 423 million women experiencing intimate partner violence. As climatic disasters become more frequent, the potential for violence is expected to rise sharply.
For instance, research mentioned in the report indicates a 28 percent surge in femicide during periods of extreme heat. Other repercussions of climate-related disruptions include increased incidences of child marriage, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation, especially following displacements due to floods, droughts, or desertification.
Marginalized communities
The report notes that the impact of these crises is disproportionate. Women and girls living in poverty, including smallholder farmers and those residing in informal urban areas, are especially at risk. Those who are Indigenous, disabled, elderly, or identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community face overlapping vulnerabilities, often lacking access to crucial services, shelters, and protections.
In sub-Saharan Africa, projections suggest that the number of women experiencing intimate partner violence could skyrocket from 48 million in 2015 to 140 million by 2060 with a 4°C rise in temperatures. Conversely, if warming is limited to 1.5°C, the percentage of affected women might drop from 24% in 2015 to 14% by 2060.
The report also brings attention to the heightened dangers faced by women environmental human rights defenders, who frequently endure harassment, defamation, and violence for opposing harmful land practices and extractive industries. For example, in Guatemala, women advocating against illegal logging faced violent evictions and arson. In the Philippines, anti-mining activists have been subject to abduction and lethal attacks.
An urgent call for gender-inclusive climate policy
Despite the pressing nature of this issue, the report reveals that only a minimal proportion—0.04 percent—of climate-related development aid specifically targets gender equality. This gap indicates a critical oversight in acknowledging how gender-based violence significantly influences climate resilience and justice.
The Spotlight Initiative advocates for the inclusion of gender-based violence prevention across all tiers of climate policy, from local initiatives to global funding frameworks. Successful examples from countries like Haiti, Vanuatu, Liberia, and Mozambique demonstrate how programs can effectively address gender violence while simultaneously enhancing climate resilience.
Such efforts include retraining midwives to work within the growing climate-smart agricultural sector, ensuring disaster response plans incorporate GBV services, and promoting the deployment of mobile health clinics in areas affected by disasters.
The report emphasizes the need for effective climate action to prioritize safety, equity, and the empowerment of women and girls. Ultimately, it asserts that combating violence against women and girls is not only a fundamental human rights concern but also vital for realizing a fair, sustainable, and climate-resilient future.
Source
news.un.org