Climate change, a current and perhaps even more profound problem, is much larger than the deterioration of the Earth’s environment or fluctuations in the economy. One interrelated and overlapping area among these is the climate change and gender-based abuse connection, which has not received a lot of attention.

Climate change-induced displacement exposes women and girls to heightened risks of harassment and exploitation in unsafe shelters and camps.

Such linkage is a reminder of the increased risk women and girls in areas worst hit by climate changes are exposed to. The perfect example is how climate change makes woman abuse rife thereby fostering poverty, exploitation, and social injustice.

Changes to climate in the last several decades include an increasing rate of climate-related disasters, specifically hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires. Most of these disasters affect the most vulnerable groups in society where issues of gender imbalance are most prevalent.

The devastating effects of these disasters are felt more by women and girls who constitute the world’s poor majority. In many societies, they lack resources, education, and decision-making power and hence are easily victimized in cases of abuse and exploitation.

For example, extreme weather displaces families that are subsequently compelled to rent substandard shelters, crowded camps, or refugee settlements. Such spaces, although physically offering security in the initial stages of a disaster, often lack sufficient protection, exposing women and girls to harassment. Furthermore, societal disintegration that accompanies disasters erases various procedural fodders that shield women and girls.

The economic impact of the climate change exacerbates the experience of GBV as well. Severe climate changes often affect people and their capacities to earn a living especially when many of those involved in agriculture. When crops are poor and other sources of income are scarce, families are under a lot of pressure, and the result is girls and women are sold, forced into early marriage, etc.

Economic pressures from climate disasters drive forced marriages and human trafficking, worsening gender-based abuse.

Girls are forced into early marriage, which, though is seen as a way of coping with fate, especially in hard economic times is encouraged during such times. Lack of available resources means such families may send their daughters to early marriage to minimize expenditure back at home. Likewise, human traffickers exploit Climate refugees, and vulnerable communities due to the effects of climate disasters. Women and girls are many times deceived into work or sex slavery under the pretext of being offered a way through the deadly life/means of subsistence.

Another dimension of climate change with regard to GBA is the issue of intersectionality—the connections between different structures that perpetrate and promote, disadvantage and oppression. This means that factors such as race, ethnicity, disability, and socio-economic status all come into play and overlay the basic category of gender. For example, Indigenous women are certainly affected first by climate change because they are directly connected to natural resources and are discriminated against in society.

Another is that a gender-based system is also a barrier to women embracing climate change and protecting themselves from any form of abuse. Women are subjected to a range of male-dominating norms, on issues to do with education, land ownership, and finances in many areas. Such forms of hindrances not only impair their ability to cope with climate shocks but also continue to subordinate them to male partners, thus escalating the cases of domestic violence and coercive control. Any time women don’t have the power of decision-making and autonomy, they are also powerless to resist climate difficulties.

Social crises related to climate change including water and food insecurity also affect domestic violence rates in our communities. Data gathered show that a lack of resources leads to enhanced tensions and conflicts in the households. In patriarchal societies such tensions find expression in Domestic Violence against women and girls.

Intersectionality deepens the impact of climate change on vulnerable groups, including Indigenous women and those with limited resources.

Secondly, climate change can worsen other existing cycles of abuse. For instance, in an event of protracted dry spells, women and the girl child are forced to walk longer distances in search of water. This increase also exposes them to physical exhaustion and increased vulnerability to sexual violence while on these journeys. The reciprocal relationship between environmental depredation and household chores leads to gendered violence.

The two major subjects; climate change and gender-based abuse, call for a different solution, which entails both addressing climate change and promoting women’s rights. First, it is crucial to include gender considerations in climate change policies as well as in disaster risk management plans. Governments and other organizations must make efforts towards obtaining women’s participation rate, especially in the formulation of adaptation and mitigation measures.

Those too need to remain educated and empowered; the better (particularly women) should also have equal chances at investments as the others. Vocational training, -related microfinance, land, and resource; programs will improve women’s ability to cope with shocks due to climate change, hence not easy to exploit.

Advocacy for community participation and raising awareness for change also have an important role in addressing and eradicating the fundamentals of abuse. It shows that awareness campaigns across television and the internet should target the overthrowing of patriarchal mentalities as well as gender equality.

Gender-responsive climate policies and community awareness campaigns are vital to address abuse and empower women to cope with climate challenges.

Lastly, cross-national collaboration is critical in managing this problem given its international context. Hence, climate financing should be strategically aligned to address the emerging issues of climate change through gender-responsive funding systems. Governments, NGOs, and other International organizations collectively have the potential to formulate strategies for sustainable development irrespective of continent and climate change and its impacts on Women & girls.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.