Climate Crisis and Gender-Based Violence | 26 Apr 2025

Source: UN 

Why in News 

A report released by the UN Spotlight Initiative shows that climate change is increasing gender based violence (GBV) against women, especially in poor and vulnerable communities. 

• The report predicts climate change could cause 1 in 10 intimate partner violence (IPV) cases by 2100 without urgent action. 

What are the UN Report's Findings and Recommendations on Climate-Gender Based Violence? 

Key Findings of the UN Report 

• Climate Change Increasing GBV: A 1°C rise in temperature leads to a 4.7% increase in intimate partner violence (IPV).  
  • At 2°C warming, 40 million more women and girls may face IPV annually by 2090; this more than doubles under 3.5°C.  
  • Limiting warming to 1.5°C could cut IPV rates from 24% to 14% by 2060. 
• Disaster-Induced Violence & Underreporting: In 2023, 93.1 million people faced climate disasters, and 423 million women experienced IPV. 
  • Heatwaves caused a 28% rise in femicide, and post-disaster situations led to increase in child marriage, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation, especially after floods, droughts, and displacement.  
  • The report describes gender-based violence (GBV) as a "shadow pandemic," noting that one in three women worldwide have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, with only 7% of survivors reporting the incidents. 
• Vulnerable Groups at Highest GBV Risk: Women in poverty, informal settlements, agriculture, Indigenous communities, those with disabilities, the elderly, and LGBTQ+ individuals face higher GBV risks due to limited support systems.  
  • Women fighting for environmental rights face harassment, violence, abduction, and even murder.  
• Huge Gap in Gender-Climate Funding: Only 0.04% of climate-related development assistance focuses primarily on gender equality, showing a major failure to tackle GBV in climate action. 

Key Recommendations of the UN Report 

• Integrate GBV in Climate Policy: Mainstream gender-based violence prevention into all climate policies and programs at local, national and global levels and increase gender-focused climate funding. 
• Prioritize Women’s Safety and Leadership: Ensure women are central to climate solutions as leaders and beneficiaries.  
  • Recognize and address GBV as a barrier to climate resilience, making it a core part of sustainable development efforts. 
  • Supporting the capacity of civil society organizations and women's movements, such as the Pacific Feminist Community of Practice, is essential to ensure that gender justice is central to global climate platforms like COP27, promoting inclusive and sustainable climate solutions. 
• Adopting International Best Practices: Implementing gender-responsive programs, as seen in Vanuatu, Liberia, and Mozambique, that link gender justice with climate resilience.  
  • Key measures include re-training former female genital mutilation (FGM) practitioners in climate-smart agriculture, embedding GBV services in disaster response, and deploying mobile health clinics in climate-affected areas.  

Conclusion 

The climate crisis is a gendered crisis. The UN findings underscore the urgent need to integrate gender equity and violence prevention into the heart of climate strategies. For India and the global community, this means rethinking policy frameworks to be inclusive, responsive, and rights-centered. Only then can we build a climate-resilient future that is safe and just for all.