Shiela Birgen

The urgency of Climate Change is abundantly clear as the world warms, biodiversity falters, sea levels rise, and weather becomes more extreme and unpredictable. However, what has become even more apparent, are the ways in which the effects of climate change serve to intensify structural inequalities, widen gender divides, and further disenfranchise those most marginalised. Research on the unequal effects of climate change on women* are plentiful, with women* more likely to lack the mobility to move, more likely to live subsistence livelihoods/ to live on or below the poverty line, they often bear more responsibility for family and unpaid care, and experience gender-based violence at higher rates (with figures beginning to depict correlation between stressors like climate change and higher rates of gender-based violence). On the flip side of this equation, where women* are on the front lines of changes in climate, they are also in an ideal position to understand, inspire and lead towards more sustainable, socially conscientious, and diverse solutions. Women* and girls* are increasingly visible in their roles, not as victims (neither unfortunately as governmental leaders), but in an offensive stance as activists, disruptive change-makers and pioneers in climate politics and sustainability solutions. These alternative perspectives are essential to creating sustainable, meaningful, and fair climate solutions as feminist perspectives serve to highlight the deep and multi-pronged connections between patriarchy and human-led climate change. Control and ownership of finite resources, of land, sea and flora and fauna are all borne out of the same mentality of patriarchy which seeks to dominate and create subordination. Therefore, the fight against climate change necessitates countervailing/feminist perspectives, initiatives and innovations which rethink our foundational relationship with the environment.