Climate change affects everyone—but not equally. Discover how feminist political ecology reveals hidden dimensions of the climate crisis and paves the way for more equitable solutions.
Explore InsightsA theoretical framework for complex realities
Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) connects ecological processes with political and economic structures through an explicitly gender-conscious lens. This approach recognizes that environmental changes don't occur in a vacuum but are embedded in existing power relations and unequal social orders 1 .
A key concept of FPE is intersectionality—the recognition that gender cannot be considered in isolation but intersects with other inequality categories such as class, ethnicity, age, and geographical location. An older indigenous woman in rural Mexico thus experiences climate change fundamentally differently than an urban, wealthy man from the same country 1 .
Hierarchization that produces action-relevant differences along gender, class, and age
The power of dominant representations and discourses about nature and gender
Capturing identity-political dynamics that promote unequal adaptation options
Unequal vulnerability, unequal agency
Women bear a disproportionate burden of the climate crisis worldwide, especially in the Global South. Socially constructed gender roles often mean that women are responsible for vital areas such as water procurement, food production, and energy supply—all areas that are extremely climate-sensitive 4 .
| Area | Specific Vulnerabilities | Regional Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Water Supply | Longer distances to fetch water during droughts; higher risk of violence | Africa, South Asia |
| Agriculture | Less access to land, credit, and agricultural innovations | Global South |
| Health | Higher mortality during extreme weather events; reproductive health risks | Coastal regions, island states |
| Migration | Higher risk of forced migration and human trafficking | Conflict regions |
Table 1: Selected indicators of gender-specific climate vulnerability
Despite their higher vulnerability, women are by no means passive victims. On the contrary: they often develop innovative adaptation strategies and possess unique ecological knowledge. In South Africa, for example, local female farmers are trained in agroecology and permaculture to cope with challenges posed by unpredictable weather conditions 4 .
Political participation also shows clear correlations: countries with higher proportions of women in parliament are more likely to ratify environmental agreements and implement more ambitious climate policies 4 .
Studies confirm that countries with higher gender equality show significantly better values in climate adaptation indices. Each 1% increase in gender equality is associated with a 0.6% improvement in adaptive capacity 4 .
Empirical evidence linking gender equality to climate resilience
A 2024 ecological study examined the relationship between gender equality and climate adaptation in 146 countries. The researchers used the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) and the Gender Inequality Index (GII) from the United Nations, as well as the ND-GAIN Country Index to measure climate adaptation capacity 4 .
| Index | Overall Correlation | Vulnerability | Adaptive Readiness |
|---|---|---|---|
| GGGI | +0.59% per 1% equality | -0.41% vulnerability | +0.77% readiness |
| GII | -0.54% per 1% inequality | +0.41% vulnerability | -0.67% readiness |
Table 2: Association between gender equality and climate adaptation
The strongest association was found in the education sector—equal access to education proved particularly influential for climate adaptation capacity 4 .
A systematic review from 2025 analyzed 61 studies on climate-related gender-specific health risks. The results show that women in low- and middle-income countries bear special health risks, including :
Due to climate-related stress
Higher risks for mothers and newborns
Greater water uncertainty and associated health problems
Significantly increased care burden during climate disasters
How to research gender-climate connections
| Methods | Purpose | Example Application |
|---|---|---|
| Intersectional Analysis | Capturing overlapping inequality dimensions | Examining climate vulnerability among indigenous women |
| Participatory Mapping | Visualizing local-specific knowledge and vulnerable zones | Community mapping of water resources in Chiapas, Mexico 1 |
| Discourse Analysis | Deconstructing hegemonic narratives on gender and nature | Analysis of climate policy documents for gender-stereotypical representations |
| Ethnographic Field Research | Deep understanding of everyday climate adaptation practices | Participant observation in agricultural women's cooperatives |
| Counter-Mapping | Counter-representations to official, often powerful maps | Mapping informal settlements with high flood risk |
Table 3: Methodological tools of feminist climate research
Sarah Hackfort's research in Chiapas illustrates the added value of feminist political ecology perspectives. In a region particularly affected by climate change, she examined the interactions between 1 :
How neoliberal policies and trade agreements restrict the room for maneuver of female farmers
Dominant narratives about "modernization" and "adaptation" that marginalize alternative, gender-just approaches
How women see themselves as political actors and develop collective resistance strategies
Her combination of methods from participant observation, in-depth interviews, and discourse analysis allowed her to capture the multifaceted dimensions of climate adaptation from a gender perspective.
From insight to action
The research findings are clear: gender equality is not a side issue but a central success factor for effective climate adaptation. But how can this insight be translated into concrete political action?
"Sybille Bauriedl warns against treating gender as a mere 'add-on' instead of addressing the deep structural causes of inequality." 3
In all climate impact assessments and adaptation planning
Of women and marginalized genders in climate decision-making bodies
For women-led climate initiatives
To improve evidence bases
Which increases significantly during climate disasters
True gender-responsive climate policy requires a transformation of:
Feminist political ecology doesn't just offer an additional perspective on the climate crisis—it demands a fundamental rethinking of how we understand and address environmental changes. Through its emphasis on power relations, intersectionality, and everyday practices, it allows us to capture the complex mediations between gender relations and ecological transformations.
The empirical evidence is overwhelming: gender equality not only correlates with better climate adaptation—it is a prerequisite for sustainable and resilient societies. The much-cited "Great Transformation" to sustainability will only succeed if it is conceived and implemented as a feminist transformation.
As Sarah Hackfort shows using the example of Mexico, women are not only "more vulnerable" but are already developing emancipatory alternatives beyond market-based adaptation strategies. These approaches need to be strengthened and placed at the center of climate policy—for a climate-just future that leaves no one behind.