This blog was written by LWV's UN Affiliates, chiefly Robin Tokmakian

The changes now occurring to the climate system around the world affect us all, particularly women and girls. According to UN Women, by 2050 it “will push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty and lead to 236 million more women into hunger.” 

Depending on where one lives, the impact will be more or less severe. Women in rural areas in particular are affected to a much larger degree than their urban-dwelling counterparts. 

As an international organization whose focuses include protecting the environment, the United Nations (UN) contains several programs and working groups dedicated to climate justice. This includes the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which focuses its work on addressing the climate issues that women and girls face around the world. The advocacy of the WGC has pushed to make sure women’s voices are being heard and their concerns addressed. 

The League of Women Voters became affiliated with the UN in 1945, providing consultation on areas in which LWV has expertise. As part of this role, LWV is a member of the WGC. The WGC’s work aligns with LWV’s commitment to climate goals and policies that are consistent with the best available climate science and ensure a stable system for future generations. 

On today, the International Day for Rural Women, we’re highlighting the impact of climate change on rural women and how groups like the UN are working to incorporate these women’s wisdom in climate solutions. 

Climate Change’s Impact on Rural Women 

In many rural areas, women “bear a disproportionate responsibility” for obtaining food, water, and fuel. Indeed, agriculture is the most important sector of employment for women in low and lower-middle income countries.  

The drought and excessive rainfall directly affect all of these activities. This results in women having to travel farther to get water, gather fuel, or to find food.  

Climate change is also considered a “threat multiplier,” as it escalates social and other tensions in conflict-affected settings. For women and girls, this can mean increased vulnerabilities to gender-based violence and risks related to maternal and child health. When disasters occur, women experience lower rates of survival than men, and less access to relief and assistance. 

Climate Solutions Must Involve Rural Women 

Women in rural areas have unique, intimate knowledge of how to meet the basic needs of their communities; this knowledge must be considered when repairing or preventing the damage due to climate change on the community level. And money, both for building capacity amongst rural women to address climate change and to fund projects, is necessary.  

One challenge is that within many affected countries, few women or women’s organizations are part of the monetary decision-making process within. However, progress is being made to further address gender issues in funded projects from groups like the UN.   

International climate funding is available through several mechanisms of the UNFCCC as well as through the UN Development Program’s Global Environmental Facility. All of these entities have gender polices, though some have yet to be fully implemented. In some instances, sub-national women’s organizations may apply for funding via their national contact, who may not understand the gender issues. In other cases, there is a small grants program to which women organizations can apply directly.  

The UNFCCC’s Women and Gender Constituency will continue to promote and advocate for women and their deep understanding of the climate solutions that will help the world reach a sustainable future. LWV continues to support efforts to build a sustainable future and empower women and girls to live safe and healthy lives.