SWANA Women in a Changing Climate
We cannot discuss sustainable development and climate change mitigation while continuing to ignore the most vulnerable groups in developing societies. This is especially true for those who have the least support and the greatest difficulty accessing resources, such as women.
My name is Mariam Riad Abbas (she/her), a Palestinian refugee who has lived between the identity of my homeland, which I hold dear, and the country where I reside. As both a woman and a human being in a region that bears the profound consequences of pollution and climate change, I view climate justice as an essential form of peace that remains absent in this part of the world. In this article, I aim to highlight a particular dimension of inequality within the climate change framework, focusing on its unequal impact on women.
Image reference: Women and girls displaced due to drought in Somaliland, UNFPA
When addressing women and climate change, we must first acknowledge that women often have less economic, political, and legal influence, which results in fewer opportunities and greater exposure to challenges. Therefore, it is essential to implement inclusive policies and strategies that prioritize women's needs and rights in climate action.
How does climate change affect women?
The impacts of climate change on ecosystems and livelihoods vary by region, but they are most severe for marginalized and vulnerable groups such as women. According to a recent report from the UN Secretary-General, climate-related disasters cost an average of $250 billion to $300 billion annually, and from 2003 to 2013, disasters caused nearly $1.5 trillion in economic damages worldwide.
These impacts are felt globally—extreme weather events, heatwaves, and droughts have increased in frequency and intensity, often leading to harmful effects on agriculture, fishing, and other livelihoods. Climate change can also endanger the progress made by the global community in important areas such as food security, health, and education.
“When addressing women and climate change, we must first acknowledge that women often have less economic, political, and legal influence, which results in fewer opportunities and greater exposure to challenges.”
The differing impact of climate change on men and women is evident due to their varying roles and responsibilities and disparities in economic opportunities and access to productive resources. According to OECD women in the South-West Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region depend on climate-sensitive livelihoods, particularly agriculture and pastoralism, making them vulnerable to climate variability like droughts and floods. Limited access to resources and support systems exacerbates their food insecurity and economic stress. Despite their significant contributions to agriculture, women face barriers such as inadequate land rights and lack of credit, hindering their adaptation to climate impacts.
Women are responsible for tasks that rely on natural resources, such as maintaining kitchen gardens and household duties. Climate variability can deplete these resources, affecting their time and financial security. Improving access to financial capital is essential for enabling women to invest in resilient agricultural tools and inputs. Furthermore, gender disparities in access to information and communication technologies (ICT) limit their ability to adapt effectively to climate challenges. Addressing these issues is crucial for enhancing women's resilience in the face of climate change.
In addition, according to the World Health Organization, higher temperatures are associated with negative birth outcomes, including preterm births and stillbirths, as well as increased risks of hypertension and gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Ambient air pollution also increases the likelihood of hypertension during pregnancy, low birth weight, preterm birth, and negative effects on fetal brain and lung development.
A report released by UN Women at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) indicates that by 2050, climate change could drive up to 158 million women and girls into poverty and cause 232 million to face food insecurity. Severe climate conditions, such as storms, floods, or heat waves, force thousands of people worldwide to leave their homes. According to the UNDP, 80% of those displaced by climate change are women or girls, who face increased risks of poverty, violence, or unintended pregnancies as they migrate to safer locations. Additionally, women are 14 times more likely to die in a climate-related disaster than their male counterparts, underscoring the urgency of addressing the gendered dimensions of this crisis.
What about the Challenges at the policy level in SWANA?
In the SWANA region, adaptation policies and support for the most vulnerable groups remain inadequate. The region's natural resources, such as water and soil fertility, are diminishing and becoming increasingly unstable, due to climate change exacerbating conditions leading to soil degradation and water scarcity. Factors like massive floods and widespread drought foreshadow climate-related disasters in the SWANA, according to WHO.
These disasters expose a fundamental issue: governance systems have failed to provide people with reliable safety nets due to a lack of preparedness and relief capabilities. Furthermore, several countries in the region suffer from a relative lack of sustainable development and economic progress, a problem that has been vigorously discussed and extensively analyzed in the UNDP Arab Human Development Reports. As a result, women in SWANA, especially those living in rural areas, are left to struggle alone.
For example, in Syria over a decade of conflict has severely damaged infrastructure, leaving 30% of the population with electricity for only two hours a day. And Yemen faces compounded challenges, experiencing extreme droughts and flooding that devastate agricultural infrastructure and soil, exacerbating food insecurity. As climate events become more severe and unpredictable, the situation for vulnerable populations in both countries continues to deteriorate.
“In the SWANA region, adaptation policies and support for the most vulnerable groups remain inadequate. The region’s natural resources, such as water and soil fertility, are diminishing and becoming increasingly unstable, due to climate change exacerbating conditions leading to soil degradation and water scarcity.”
Some SWANA governments, particularly the United Arab Emirates, acknowledge climate change but do not implement significant measures to address it. These governments aim to show that economic power and technological innovation are solutions to the climate crisis. There should be a re-evaluation of governance mechanisms and socio-economic systems, focusing on their relationship with nature.
SWANA countries must adopt sustainable practices in natural space management to enhance soil moisture retention, such as crop diversification, and constructing systems to capture and store rainwater that can provide a reliable water source during dry periods.
Globally, it is essential to harness the water cycle to restore livable climates and take proactive measures to mitigate flood damage. This sector requires new competencies, a significant labor force, and involving local communities, particularly women, in decision-making processes. It is crucial to reconstruct natural spaces to enable them to retain water and productivity, especially since women in rural regions are responsible for providing water for their families, including for hygiene, cooking, and watering the lands.
“It’s time for regional leaders, policymakers, and civil society to come together to reimagine a future where sustainable development strategies prioritize the role of women in decision-making processes, to create a more equitable and sustainable future.”
Finally, the SWANA region, in general, needs a comprehensive restructuring of its political structures to address climate change effectively. There should be a stronger focus on integrating marginalized groups, such as women and adopting mechanisms that enhance their empowerment in the face of resource scarcity, energy shortages, and droughts.
Governments must develop policies that actively include marginalized communities, ensuring their voices and needs are considered at every level. In addition, they must prioritize investment in renewable energy technologies and infrastructure to reduce dependency on oil and foster a more resilient energy system. They should also implement programs focused on education, training, and financial support for women and other vulnerable groups to strengthen their resilience against climate-related challenges.
It's time for regional leaders, policymakers, and civil society to come together to reimagine a future where sustainable development strategies prioritize the role of women in decision-making processes, to create a more equitable and sustainable future.
References
Georgetown University. (2019). Environmental politics in the Middle East: Arabic summary report (CIRS Report No. 24). https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1056511/CIRSArabicSummaryReport24EnviornmentalPoliticsInTheMiddleEast2019.pdf
Lazard, O. (2020, November). Will the Middle East remain habitable? Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
OECD. (2024). Women and climate change in the Sahel. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/women-and-climate-change-in-the-sahel_e31c77ad-en.html
United Nations Development Programme. (2016). Overview of linkages between gender and climate change: Policy brief 1. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/UNDP%20Linkages%20Gender%20and%20CC%20Policy%20Brief%201-WEB.pdf
United Nations Development Programme. (2023). Rising to the challenge: Climate action in the Arab region. https://www.undp.org/arab-states/stories/rising-challenge-climate-action-arab-region
United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.). Women are hit hardest by disasters: So why are responses too often gender-blind? https://www.undp.org/blog/women-are-hit-hardest-disasters-so-why-are-responses-too-often-gender-blind
UN Women. (2023, December). A new report shows how feminism can be a powerful tool to fight climate change. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/feature-story/2023/12/new-report-shows-how-feminism-can-be-a-powerful-tool-to-fight-climate-change
World Health Organization. (2024, June 5). Experts warn of serious health impacts from climate change for pregnant women, children, and older people. https://www.who.int/news/item/05-06-2024-experts-warn-of-serious-health-impacts-from-climate-change-for-pregnant-women--children--and-older-people
