Women and climate change

Blog by Astrea Kumaradas

There’s been quite a lot of focus on climate change in the last few years - discussions on what we can do to prevent global warming, misinformation (unfortunately), and pledges to move towards a more carbon-neutral future.

Looking at climate change from an intersectional perspective, we can see that women are disproportionately affected. Why? Due to their role in agriculture, a sector very much dependent on climate and the weather, the increased additional unpaid work in the form of childcare, and increased global conflict increasing the risk of gender-based violence. A rise in temperatures even affects pregnant mothers, as it affects their bodies’ ability to regulate their body temperature.

What can we do? 

When it comes to reducing our carbon emissions, no action is too small. Here are some changes you can implement in your own life to reduce your carbon footprint:

• Food - making a conscious effort to limit food waste is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, as food waste produces methane.
• Food - shifting your diet to eat less meat and dairy is another way to reduce your carbon emissions from food, as agriculture is another source of methane.
• Shopping - buying local, focusing on sustainable materials and buying second-hand are all great ways to reduce your carbon footprint when shopping.
• Transport - walking, cycling and taking public transport all limit our carbon dioxide output. 
• In the home - efficiency measures such as taking shorter showers, setting the thermostat slightly lower and using the dryer less (especially now that it’s summer). This also has the added benefit of reducing your energy bill!

If you’re interested…

You can find more information about climate change and Amnesty’s work here:

https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/climate-change/

If you’re looking for books on climate change, carbon emissions and carbon footprints, here are some suggested reads:

• The Climate Book by Greta Thunberg
• How Bad Are Bananas? by Mike Berners-Lee
• This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein

Sources:
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/explainer/2022/02/explainer-how-gender-inequality-and-climate-change-are-interconnected 

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/11/24/climate-change-women-impact-explained-as-equals-lon-orig.cnn)