Today, we’re discussing the undeniable link between the gender equality movement and that of climate change action or, in fact, the fight for climate justice. Climate action truly is climate justice because it represents the fight for justice for every living thing on the planet, and indeed the planet itself.
Climate change affects populations across the globe in vastly disparate ways. The poor are particularly vulnerable, and are inarguably affected in a far greater way than the wealthy. Currently, 70% of the globe’s poorest people are women and children. If your brain jumped right to developing countries when hearing this statistic, think again! This is also true in the United States. In 2016, households of single women caring for children had a poverty rate double that of households of single men caring for children; women of color experienced poverty up to 3 times more than white men; and transgender folks had poverty rates double the general population.
The frequency of climate-related disasters is increasing as we plunge deeper into climate change, and female-identifying folks will continue to be the ones left behind.
