Climate is a gender issue. Climate change serves to exacerbate existing gender inequalities and lead to worse outcomes - including domestic violence and child marriage - for women and girls. Here are a few reasons why.

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1. Food and water scarcity - Changes in temperature and rainfall in impoverished areas make it more difficult for people to grow sufficient food. Women and girls bear responsibility for collecting water and firewood, tending crops, and feeding their families; and when the climate makes it more difficult to grow food, these responsibilities only increase. Climate change is also causing severe water scarcity. Women and girls are typically responsible for collecting water, but as water sources dry up, they must travel longer and longer distances to find water. This can have serious implications for their health and educations.

2. Natural disasters - Natural disasters have a significantly disproportionate impact on women and girls. They are more likely to die during the event itself. Women and girls are more likely to experience sexual violence while staying in temporary shelters following natural disasters. They face unique health needs while in temporary accommodations, including managing pregnancy, birth, and menstruation. Domestic violence tends to soar in the months and years following natural disasters, as does the harmful practice of child marriage.

3. Health risks - Women and girls are more likely than men to experience health issues related to domestic tasks. For example, they are more likely to have respiratory illnesses that stem from the indoor air pollution caused by burning wood and charcoal for cooking, and they are at heightened risk of contracting waterborne illnesses because of a lack of access to clean water.

4. Disruption in education - When families deal with food insecurity, water scarcity, and/or displacement from natural disasters, girls are much more likely to drop out of school in order to help provide for their families.

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At A Day in June, our focus on human rights and gender equality goes hand in hand with our commitment to sustainability. If you too are passionate about equality and sustainability, we would love to meet you.

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