OPINION PIECES

The nexus between climate change, environmental crises and women’s rights constitutes a critical human rights issue globally. Today, the impact of anthropogenic climate change and human-induced environmental damage on our societies is proven to cause irreversible changes. Urgency has become evident and action is recognized as necessary. Environmental issues put women at greater risk of gender-based violence and have a mutual causality with conflict. Indigenous women, especially, often endure life-changing and catastrophic consequences. Therefore, adopting an intersectional approach to women’s rights is necessary.

This research paper is divided in four chapters: 1) Introduction, 2) Intersecting Challenges in Policy Making, 3) Implementation of Adaptation, Mitigation and Response Plans, and 4) Key Areas of Work and Recommendations. The paper underlines the main challenges including lack of political will and a holistic approach, slow and fragmented legislative reforms, poor impact assessment as well as inequalities perpetrated by an unjust international order. In order to tackle these obstacles, the paper provides several recommendations. These include, among others, the development of a more inclusive formal financial services for women; the creation of a more space to civil society organizations in the policy-making process; the establishment of a more geographical and gender representation in decision making; and the design and adoption of gender-responsive actions, plans and intersectional approaches.