A recent study emphasizes the importance of incorporating gender equality trends into strategies for adapting to and addressing climate change.
A new IIASA study emphasizes that gender equality trends must be a key consideration when planning how societies adapt to and respond to climate change. In societies where women have limited access to decision-making, financial resources, or education, finding and applying solutions—such as improved irrigation, crop rotation, behavior changes, and transitioning to renewable energy—becomes challenging. We should pose “what-if” scenarios that explore both advancements in equality and worsening inequality. It is evident that ignoring gender inequality will come at a significant cost.
As detailed in Nature Climate Change, the research dives into scenarios that inform our understanding of climate risks, illustrating how tracking gender equality trends is essential for grasping societal development paths in the face of climate change. The results underscore the importance of equal access to education, employment, and financial services for effectively implementing solutions.
“The connection between gender equality and climate action is extensive but has often been overlooked in mainstream climate research, particularly regarding mitigation efforts,” stated lead author Marina Andrijevic, a researcher in the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program. “Providing women with equal opportunities in decision-making, the workforce, and higher education across various fields facilitates a more equitable energy transition.”
A significant focus of the study is the relationship between efforts to mitigate climate change and gender inequality. The transition from fossil fuels affects different demographic groups in varying ways. For instance, the coal mining sector is predominantly male, with women typically engaged in informal or unpaid support roles. The shift towards renewable energy offers a chance to alter this pattern. With thoughtful policies, more women can join the workforce, and caregiving tasks can be shared more equally, fostering fairer working conditions for all in a sustainable economy.
“Our research is driven by the increasing evidence that when women lack opportunities—ranging from basic education to leadership roles in government—societal capacity to respond to crises like climate change diminishes,” Andrijevic remarked. “By examining various potential futures, we demonstrate how social advancements are vital in enhancing climate resilience.”
The study also highlights how prevailing social norms pose unique challenges for adaptation. Women encounter distinct obstacles such as threats to maternal health, malnutrition during droughts, and health risks from water collection. Simultaneously, they often lack access to critical resources, limiting their ability to adapt. Conversely, men are more susceptible to hazards like floods and storms, may face heat-related stress at work, or experience mental health issues and economic hardship linked to droughts.
Grasping the interplay between these varying risks and gender inequality is essential for identifying vulnerable areas that are most susceptible to climate-related threats.
The authors stress the necessity of examining how societies may evolve to fully comprehend the forthcoming challenges and their capacity to react to crises like climate change. They underscore the significance of envisioning various possible futures: ones that prioritize fairness and opportunity, as well as those that exacerbate existing inequalities.
The study received support and funding from the SPARCCLE project (grant agreement no. 101081364) under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, and the European Research Council Consolidator Grant POPCLIMA (grant agreement no. 101002973), which is also funded by Horizon Europe.
