A recent report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that a majority of countries’ climate plans lack a commitment to safeguard the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls. This oversight, the report emphasizes, leaves these vulnerable groups exposed to the adverse impacts of climate change.
The UNFPA report, examining climate plans from 119 countries, found that merely 38 of them have incorporated access to contraception and maternal and newborn health considerations into their adaptation strategies. Furthermore, only 15 countries make reference to addressing gender-based violence in their climate plans.
Extensive research has indicated that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. Rising temperatures have been associated with adverse effects on maternal health and pregnancy complications, while extreme heat can lead to premature deliveries and a higher risk of stillbirth. Severe weather events, such as droughts, can exacerbate gender-based violence and contribute to a surge in child marriages as families, grappling with economic hardship, seek to reduce their financial burdens.
Recent research conducted by Ohio State University revealed that, in years with heatwaves lasting a month or more, the number of marriages involving girls aged 11 to 14 in Bangladesh increased by half.
The UNFPA report also highlights how women’s health facilities have suffered damage from climate-related disasters in regions like East Africa. Moreover, women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate-induced food insecurity and malnutrition.
“The climate crisis is not gender neutral,” emphasized Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA executive director. “In those countries most at risk, women and girls are disproportionately affected even though they have contributed the least to the global climate emergency.”
While most countries’ climate plans lack considerations for sexual and reproductive health and rights, the UN recognized some nations for their commendable progress. For instance, Paraguay emphasizes the need to develop climate-resilient healthcare systems capable of responding to extreme weather events, while the Seychelles and Benin aim to enhance maternal and newborn health outcomes. Additionally, nine countries, including the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, have outlined policies or interventions to address the rising incidence of violence against women due to climate change.
The UN report, compiled in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London and the International Development Research Centre in Canada, offers 13 recommendations. These include the call for countries to gather evidence on the impacts of climate change on sexual and reproductive health and violence against women and girls, integrate related policies and interventions across various sectors, ensure inclusivity in the development and implementation of climate policy, and bolster health systems’ resilience to climate change.
