On International Women’s Day, Carla Denyer highlights that the climate crisis, largely created by men, significantly impacts women globally. She outlines the threats women face, including displacement and increased violence, due to climate change. Despite their vulnerability, women remain underrepresented in climate decision-making. Denyer urges collective action against regressive ideologies and for government accountability to protect women’s rights amid the climate crisis.
On International Women’s Day, Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, highlights the stark reality that the climate crisis predominantly affects women, despite being caused largely by men. Although progress has been made in women’s rights globally, such as abortion rights in Ireland and an end to child marriage in Colombia, there is a concerning backlash against these advancements. Countries like Afghanistan are witnessing severe restrictions on women’s rights, with girls barred from education and women prohibited from working, fostering an environment of fear and regression.
Denyer emphasizes that women are often the primary caretakers of their families, responsible for food, water, and fuel, making them particularly vulnerable to adverse climate changes such as droughts and erratic weather patterns. Statistics reveal that 80% of those displaced by climate change are women, who face increased risks of unemployment, child marriage, human trafficking, and gender-based violence. Despite this, men lead climate decision-making roles, holding more than two-thirds of these positions, which impairs meaningful progress towards addressing the climate crisis.
Moreover, in the UK, there exists a growing movement to deny and downplay the devastating impacts of climate change, largely driven by wealthy individuals and political figures with ties to the fossil fuel industry. Denyer points out the substantial funding behind parties like Nigel Farage’s Reform party, which has been fueled by oil and gas interests, enabling the spread of misinformation and hindering necessary action against climate change.
The consequences of inaction are profound, with projections indicating that 160 million women and girls may be pushed into poverty due to the climate crisis, alongside 240 million facing increased food insecurity. Denyer asserts a collective responsibility to confront regressive ideologies threatening women’s rights and to demand government action that ensures a safer and more equitable future for all individuals.
This call to action reinforces the importance of recognizing gendered disparities in climate issues and the urgent need to cultivate inclusive solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change upon vulnerable populations.
In summary, the climate crisis has a disproportionately negative impact on women, as they face increased vulnerability due to their economic and social roles. The background of rising misogynistic threats only exacerbates these challenges. With the prevalence of misinformation and significant male dominance in climate decision-making, proactive measures are critical to protect women’s rights and initiate equitable solutions. It is imperative for society to unify in demanding effective responses from governments to safeguard the future of women and the planet.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
