Context

• Despite notable strides in gender policy since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, the intersection of gender and climate change remains under-addressed, particularly in India.
• While legislative progress such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act and the POSH Act has marked important milestones, the implementation gap continues to limit their impact on the everyday lives of women, especially those in rural and climate-vulnerable communities.
• The evolving climate crisis has magnified pre-existing gender inequalities, calling for urgent and integrated action.

The Climate-Gender Nexus

• The quote from a woman in Dhanelikanhar village in Chhattisgarh, lamenting how climate change and migration are forcing girls out of school, encapsulates the deeply personal toll of global challenges.
• This sentiment brings to the fore the intertwined nature of gender inequality and climate change.
• Women, especially in rural areas, bear the brunt of climate impacts due to unequal access to resources, lower decision-making power, and a disproportionate burden of care work.
• Climate-induced stressors such as droughts, extreme heat, and food insecurity contribute to health complications, including anemia, malnutrition, infertility, and menstrual health concerns.
• Studies indicate that temperature rises correlate with higher incidences of intimate partner violence, with physical violence increasing by 8% and sexual violence by 7.3% for every 1°C rise.
• Despite these pressing realities, climate policies rarely account for the specific vulnerabilities of women, only 6% of such policies even mention women.

Women as Climate Leaders and Adaptation Agents

• Women are not just victims of climate change; they are also key to its solution.
• Their traditional knowledge in sustainable farming, seed preservation, and natural resource management is invaluable, especially in rural and indigenous communities.
• Across India, women’s collectives play pivotal roles in disaster response, food security, and ecosystem preservation.
• However, women’s unique experiences and solutions often go unrecognised in formal climate planning.
• The current Beijing+30 India Report inadequately integrates a climate lens, neglecting the significant contributions and needs of women in climate resilience strategies.
• Localised priorities such as the ‘three M’s’ for indigenous women, Mahua (forest livelihoods), Mao (security amidst resource conflicts), and Migration (distress migration), are overlooked in favour of generic climate policy frameworks.

Policy Gaps and the Need for Reform

• Inadequate Gender Integration in Climate Planning
  • One of the most glaring issues is the insufficient inclusion of gender perspectives in climate action planning.
  • For instance, only a small fraction of climate policies globally, and even fewer in India, explicitly mention women, despite overwhelming evidence that women are disproportionately affected by climate change.
  • Existing national and state-level climate plans tend to prioritise infrastructure and technology-focused solutions, such as clean energy and sustainable transport, without accounting for how these initiatives impact or can empower women.
  • The Beijing India Report 2024, which marks three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, also reflects this shortfall.
• Gender-Insensitive Climate Budgeting
  • Another major gap lies in climate finance. Budgets allocated for climate action frequently lack gender auditing mechanisms.
  • As a result, funds either overlook women’s needs or are directed through women without empowering them, leading to what many call "greenwashing" and "instrumentalization" of women.
  • This superficial inclusion fails to build long-term capacity or leadership among women.
  • To rectify this, climate budgets at national and local levels must be gender-responsive and gender-audited.
• Limited Platforms for Women's Participation
  • Women, particularly those in rural and tribal communities, often lack formal channels to voice their concerns or contribute to climate-related decisions.
  • Despite being the first responders during environmental disruptions and possessing indigenous knowledge about sustainable resource use, they remain excluded from local governance structures and disaster planning committees.
  • Establishing community-based platforms that promote women’s leadership in climate governance is vital.
• Invisibility of Women’s Health and Safety in Climate Planning
  • The intersection of climate change with women's health, safety, and bodily autonomy remains poorly addressed in mainstream policy frameworks.
  • For example, climate-induced food insecurity contributes to widespread anaemia among pregnant women, while rising temperatures have been linked to increased rates of domestic and sexual violence.
  • However, climate plans rarely incorporate public health dimensions or gender-based violence
  • To bridge this gap, climate policies must be designed in tandem with health, safety, and social welfare departments.

The Role of the Private Sector and Cross-Sector Collaboration

• The private sector has a critical role to play in this transition.
• Climate funds and green financing must prioritize women-led initiatives, promote inclusive technologies, and support female entrepreneurship in the green economy.
• This can develop a broader shift toward gender-equitable climate solutions.
• Collaboration across sectors, government, civil society, academia, and international organisations, is essential for sustained progress.
• These partnerships should focus on sharing knowledge, building capacities, and celebrating best practices that spotlight women’s leadership in climate adaptation. 

Conclusion

• India stands at a crossroads where the integration of gender and climate justice can shape a more equitable and sustainable future.
• Recognising the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and valuing their central role in adaptation are critical.
• With inclusive policies, targeted funding, and committed partnerships, India can close the gap between rights and realities, and empower women as champions of climate resilience.