Dr Vaishali Singh
Abstract
Climate change-induced disasters in India disproportionately affect women, deepening vulnerabilities and increasing risks such as health crises, displacement, and gender-based violence. While India has advanced on some climate commitments, its disaster risk reduction policies lack a strong gender-responsive focus. This article highlights these gaps, drawing on international frameworks like the Sendai Framework, and offers recommendations for integrating women’s security into climate adaptation strategies to build a more resilient and equitable future.
Climate change-induced disasters are an ever-increasing threat worldwide, with significant impacts on vulnerable populations. Climate change is increasingly recognized as a major human security issue that poses severe global threats, particularly to the world’s poor. Women, who make up 70% of those living below the poverty line, are disproportionately affected, bearing the heaviest burdens when natural disasters strike. Beyond physical vulnerabilities, women often face systemic exclusion from contributing to climate change solutions, further exacerbating human security challenges.
Human security, as a concept, emphasizes the protection of individuals’ livelihoods, dignity, and overall well-being. According to UN Environment, 80 per cent of the displaced people due to climate change are women (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2023).
For women, these aspects are particularly at risk during climate-induced disasters, where factors such as displacement, lack of resources, and social vulnerabilities converge to deepen their insecurity (Woods & Agoncillo, 2024). Recognizing these connections, frameworks like the Hyogo Framework for Action stress that “a gender perspective should be integrated into all disaster risk management policies, plans, and decision-making processes, including those related to risk assessment, early warning, information management, and education and training” (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, 2005). However, the implementation of these principles often remains inadequate.
Impact of Disasters on Women’s Health and Safety
Disaster statistics have consistently shown that women are disproportionately affected, especially in terms of health issues. Refugee camps, for instance, frequently lack culturally appropriate hygienic facilities. The absence of separate toilets, showers, and private spaces exacerbates health and security concerns, particularly for adolescent girls. This cultural neglect remains a persistent challenge, as highlighted in studies (Mehta, 2007; Dasgupta et al., 2010).
The fundamental human right to dignity for women is often violated in the aftermath of disasters (Dankelman, Alam, Gueye, et.al., 2008). A study conducted in Bangladesh further underscores this disparity, revealing that 63.33% of respondents suffered from diseases like cholera, malaria, typhoid, and jaundice during disasters. These findings highlight the urgent need to address gendered health vulnerabilities during crises (Md. Sadequr Rahman, 2013).
The cascading effects of climate change and other stressors on women’s security, emphasize the disproportionate vulnerability due to societal roles and access limitations. (Dankelman, Alam, Gueye, et.al., 2008). for Crop Failure, women bear increased agricultural work and household food provisioning. The Fuel Shortage raises heightened conflicts over fuel and burden of sourcing household fuel. Due to shortage of Safe, Clean Water women are Exposure to unsafe water sources and responsibility for household water needs.
Resource Scarcity often leads to Economic setbacks, school dropouts, early marriages, and livelihood dependence on resources. Natural Disasters leads to Increased mortality and reduced life expectancy for women. Disease impacts the Greater caregiving burden with limited access to healthcare. Displacement due to disaster causes Loss of livelihoods, inadequate shelter, and vulnerability to conflicts. The Civil War / Conflict impacts Increased exposure to sexual violence, trauma, and loss of economic stability (Dankelman, Alam, Gueye, et.al., 2008).
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which got introduced in the year 2014 via COP 20 bringing the attention of countries to control the climate’s increasing temperature from GHGs. From India’s stand its key focus being on renewable energy and economic development the targets were set in 2015, however, over the years in 2023 India achieved its only 2 targets as quoted “well ahead of its time” (Press Information Bureau, 2023).
A symbol of worthy effort and contribution towards in the era of climate change, but, somewhere the targets were only quantifiable in a way indicating the economic achievement and falling down in achieving to address human-centric approach especially gender-specific issues arising from climate change (Press Information Bureau, 2022). This oversight is especially concerning given that India is among the most disaster-prone countries globally (Anil Sinha, 1998; Asian Disaster Reduction Center, 2023) and climate change concerns are not limited to economic concerns but rather a broader social aspect.
Disasters such as floods in Bihar, Odisha, and Assam; cyclones in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu; and droughts in Maharashtra have been linked to increased intimate partner violence and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV). The 2020 Cyclone Amphan, for example, saw a rise in violence against women in shelters due to overcrowding and lack of privacy (Desai, Bharat H. & Mandal, Moumita, 2021). Economic hardships during disasters also contribute to child marriages in regions like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as families grapple with financial instability. Displacement shelters often fail to provide safe environments for women, lacking measures to prevent violence or address trauma.
Global Frameworks and Gender-Specific Risks
Global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) that got introduced to improve the Hyogo Framework for Action and its Gender Action Plan (Sendai GAP) whose objective is substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health, along with economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of people, communities, and countries. It emphasizes the importance of gender-responsive disaster risk reduction in times of climate emergencies.
The climate mitigation initiative are insufficient (UNDRR) making it all the more important to challenge the NDCs that are working towards more economic development of renewable sector without including the steps to combat the impact of climate change. India is developing renewable energy sector at a regressive speed (Ray, S., Chaturvedi, V., Ganesan, K., & Ghosh, A., 2015).
The Sendai Framework’s guiding principles promote inclusive and non-discriminatory participation, highlighting women’s leadership as critical to effective disaster risk management. Additionally, Priority 1 underscores the importance of understanding disaster risks through disaggregated data by sex, age, and disability, a crucial step toward addressing compounded vulnerabilities.
Priority 3 of the Sendai Framework focuses on investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience, particularly in critical facilities such as shelters. This aligns with the need for gender-sensitive infrastructure in Indian disaster shelters, ensuring adequate privacy and security for women and girls. The framework’s call for “Building Back Better” during recovery phases reinforces the necessity of addressing systemic gender disparities in disaster preparedness and response.
Integration of Insights from International
A critical perspective on the exacerbation of SGBV of India during disasters is provided in 2021 where the analysis of international legal instruments was emphasised and its absence in explicitly addressing SGBV during and after climate-induced disasters. This aligns with the gaps identified in Indian disaster policies, underscoring the global nature of these challenges. The authors emphasize that women face “double victimization” during crises, both as human beings and due to their gender, resulting in heightened physical, sexual, and psychological harm (Desai & Mandal, 2021).
The article’s discussion on global legal gaps is particularly relevant to India. For example, treaties like the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement fail to address SGBV. This global oversight parallels the absence of gender-responsive measures in India’s DRR strategies. Additionally, Desai and Mandal highlight the disproportionate impacts on women during emergencies, such as forced displacement and lack of privacy in shelters, echoing similar issues in Indian refugee camps and shelters during Cyclone Amphan.
Furthermore, the referenced study underscores the importance of ecofeminism and grassroots movements in addressing systemic inequalities. Movements like Chipko and Navdanya demonstrate how women’s involvement in environmental advocacy can lead to transformative change. This historical perspective could inspire more inclusive approaches to disaster governance in India
The Sendai Framework’s emphasis on global and national coordination mechanisms to strengthen local governance for gender-responsive DRR complements these findings. It advocates for multi-hazard and inclusive approaches that address socioeconomic vulnerabilities, including GBV, aligning with India’s need to integrate such strategies into its disaster policies.
Recommendations for a Gender-Responsive Disaster Policy
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policies must integrate a comprehensive Gender-Based Violence (GBV) analysis to address the ways disasters exacerbate GBV against women and girls. Enhancing women’s participation in decision-making processes is critical to ensure their needs and perspectives are prioritized. Developing gender-sensitive shelters, such as culturally appropriate refugee camps with separate toilets, showers, and secure spaces, is essential for safeguarding women and girls during disasters. Strengthening gender-disaggregated data collection and analysis can guide policy interventions and monitor their effectiveness.
Furthermore, India should adapt international best practices, including insights from the Sendai Framework and ecofeminist movements, to its specific context. This includes implementing gender-specific DRR strategies that identify how disasters amplify GBV and incorporating actionable prevention measures into state-level disaster anticipatory action plans.
Evaluate and empower by assessing the effectiveness of current DRR measures in empowering women and reducing GBV. Disaster responses should extend beyond environmental factors to encompass gender-sensitive security and safety protocols.
Moreover, there is an urgent need for India to promote more state-level studies and research focused specifically on understanding the patterns and impacts of gender-based violence (GBV) following disasters. Such research would help highlight the various forms of violence that emerge, encourage more systematic reporting mechanisms, and guide the development of specialized police units or enforcement agencies trained to address post-disaster violence. Strengthening institutional capacities to prevent GBV and ensuring timely and appropriate support for survivors must be a critical component of India’s disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies.
It is imperative for governments and stakeholders to build strong links between gender, human security, and climate change within policies and programs. By doing so, they can not only mitigate the disproportionate impacts of disasters on women but also empower them as key contributors to climate resilience and broader human security.
The intersection of climate change, disasters, and GBV presents a significant challenge for India. While international frameworks like the Sendai Framework provide a foundation, their effective implementation requires a localized, gender-sensitive approach. By addressing the systemic vulnerabilities of women during disasters and fostering their leadership in disaster governance, India can create a more equitable and resilient future.
References
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- Dankelman, I., Alam, K., Ahmed, W. B., Gueye, Y. D., Fatema, N., & Mensah-Kutin, R. (2008). Gender, climate change and human security: Lessons from Bangladesh, Ghana and Senegal. Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO). https://wedo.org/wp-content/uploads/hsn-study-final-may-20-2008.pdf.
- Dasgupta, S., Laplante, B., Murray, S., & Wheeler, D. (2010). Exposure of developing countries to sea-level rise and storm surges. Climatic Change, 106(4), 567–579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9959-6.
- Desai, B. H., & Mandal, M. (2021). Role of climate change in exacerbating sexual and gender-based violence against women: A new challenge for international law. Environmental Policy and Law, 51(3), 137–157. https://doi.org/10.3233/EPL-210055.
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- Press Information Bureau. (2022). Climate change and gender: Inextricably linked. Government of India. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1831364.
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- Sinha, A. K. (1998). Paristhaitik sankat avam manav ka bhavishya [Environmental crisis and the future of humanity]. Kurukshetra: Journal of Rural Development, 43(8), 7–8. Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. ISSN 0971-8451.
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- UNDRR. (n.d.). Focus areas: Disaster risk reduction in action. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. https://www.undrr.org/implementing-sendai-framework/drr-focus-areas/climate-action-and-disaster-risk-reduction.
- Woods, Z., & Agoncillo, M. P. (2024, May 4). How to confront gender-based violence in a warming world. Asian Development Bank.
About the Contributor: Dr Vaishali Singh is Assistant Research Manager, IMPRI.
Acknowledgement: The author extends sincere gratitude to Priyanka Negi for reviewing the article and giving her invaluable suggestions.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
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