Climate change and gender-based violence: outcomes, challenges and future perspectives

Abstract

Climate change (CC) is one of the most vehemently contested environmental debate of our time, but also a complex human problem with societal implications on several domains of life, being visible through extreme climate events such as drought and desertification, floods, forest fires and cyclones. These events frequently result in undeniable social, economic and environmental consequences, impacting more significantly on the most vulnerable populations. Gender is a differentiating variable within social vulnerability, addressed in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)5. The experiences of women and men during and after times of climate crisis are different, considering cultural norms and practices, work functions and access to security and protection resources. Women have experienced conditions of vulnerability in multiple spheres (e.g., monetary poverty, hunger, unemployment, under-education) and are also more vulnerable to extreme weather events, to their impacts, therefore triggering situations of violence. This chapter aims to review the relevant literature to better understand and demonstrate how the emerging CC around the world can contribute to promote gender-based violence (GBV) and, more specifically, how to address women vulnerability to violence within this specific scope. A cross-cutting gender approach aligned with resilience-building programmes is necessary, as well as the adoption of sustainable policies and practices to promote CC. It is essential that policymakers may consider the knowledge and experience of women in decision-making and in empowering women, favouring an intersectionality approach to obtain more effective interventions.