How Climate Change Impacts Women the Most

VICE News breaks down the gender inequalities that make women more vulnerable to the impacts of growing climate change.

The United Nations will finalize in September its Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to eliminate poverty while reducing humanity’s environmental discussion, including lessening the harmful effects of climate change. And some advocates are working to spread the message that climate change impacts men and women differently — and the UN goals need to reflect this sometimes grim reality.

“In the climate change process specifically, we want the normative framework to embed gender equality,” said Verona Collantes, a climate change specialist with UN Women, the international agency’s gender empowerment organization.

The proposed goals include a mission to achieve broad gender equality, including eliminating sexual violence and childhood marriage, and increasing women’s political and economic leadership.

In the climate change process specifically, we want the normative framework to embed gender equality.

But some advocates are concerned that the goals’ reliance on private sector investments will undermine efforts to improve the lives of women.

“Big business has perpetuated and profited from so many of the environmental and financial crises we’re trying to address,” Camille Risler, a program associate with women’s advocacy group APWLD, told VICE News. “For the Sustainable Development Goals to be effectively achieved, there needs to be a clear commitment by governments to financing the goals.”

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