Climate Change and Violence Against Women

Abstract

Climate change is the significant alteration in the weather conditions of a place, which include wetter, drier or warmer conditions over several years or decades. Human activities are the core cause of climate change. Research has stated that the unmitigated release of carbon will cause global warming of several degrees Celsius by 2100, causing high-impact risks to human society. The average global temperature has increased by 0.06° C per decade since 1855. The global warming trend since 1982 is about three times faster than 0.20° C per decade. Since the global temperatures’ increase began, 2023 was discovered to be the warmest year in history. The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that one in three women has experienced violence in their lifetime. Because the very important stakes for human societies of these two phenomena, this study's objective was to comprehensively investigate the multifaceted effects of climate change on violence against women (VAW) in diverse societal contexts. Our findings indicate that climate change significantly exacerbates Gender Based Violence (GBV). Studies in several countries have demonstrated that climate change has led to displacements, economic disruptions, lack of access to water and education, food insecurity, public health issues, which all increase violence against women. It is crucial to develop a strategic plan for protecting girls and women during climatic disasters as part of comprehensive climate action to spur the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that are related to poverty alleviation, quality education and health, building sustainable cities and climate action. Similarly, adhering to climate action as suggested by the Paris Agreement in 2016 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions via better energy, food and transport choices can result in great gains. This will also avert several adverse effects of climate change on humans such as undernutrition, forced migration, forced marriage, forced abortion, xenophobic attacks, economic disruptions, and of course, violence against women.