9: Addressing Gender Inequality in the Face of a Global Climate Crisis¹

This chapter examines the gendered impacts of climate change, underscoring the disproportionate challenges faced by women and girls, especially in Majority World countries. We highlight how intersecting inequalities and identities amplify women’s vulnerability to climate crises, and contribute to health risks, economic insecurity, and heightened exposure to violence. A feminist theoretical framework, including ecofeminism and feminist vulnerability theories, provides a lens for climate justice and the essentiality of women’s leadership in climate spaces. When women are prioritized in decision-making processes, countries achieve more effective, corruption-resistant, risk-averse, and peaceful climate policies. This paper calls for greater inclusion of women at all levels of climate action, particularly in governance, to foster long-term, sustainable climate change mitigation solutions. Furthermore, it advocates for increased research on the climate vulnerabilities of nonbinary and transgender populations to support equitable and inclusive climate resilience efforts.