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Climate change

Climate Change Exacerbates Violence Against Women and Girls

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Rising temperatures are intensifying social and economic stresses, contributing to increased levels of violence against women and girls. According to a new issue brief by the UN Spotlight Initiative, extreme weather, displacement, food insecurity, and economic instability are fueling the prevalence and severity of gender-based violence. The brief warns that climate change is a critical factor in the shadow pandemic of violence against women and girls.

Key Takeaways:

  • Intimate partner violence (IPV) increases by 4.7 per cent with every 1°C rise in global temperature.
  • In a 2°C warming scenario, 40 million more women and girls are likely to experience IPV each year by 2090.
  • A 3.5°C scenario would increase that number to more than 80 million.
  • Over one billion women have experienced physical, sexual, or psychological abuse in their lifetime, with seven per cent reporting formal incidents to police or medical services.
  • The Spotlight Initiative identifies a pattern of increased violence in the aftermath of climate disasters, with 93.1 million people affected by weather-related disasters and earthquakes in 2023.
  • Heatwaves, floods, and droughts can lead to higher rates of child marriage, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation, especially in displaced communities.
  • Women and girls in poverty, Indigenous communities, and LGBTQ+ individuals face heightened vulnerability and limited access to services, shelters, or protections.
  • Intimate partner violence is projected to nearly triple in sub-Saharan Africa from 48 million women in 2015 to 140 million by 2060 if temperatures rise by 4°C.

Statistics:

  • 93.1 million people affected by weather-related disasters and earthquakes in 2023.
  • 423 million women experienced intimate partner violence in 2023.
  • One study found a 28 per cent increase in femicide during heatwaves.
  • Inflation of 40 million women and girls experiencing IPV annually by 2090 in a 2°C warming scenario.
  • 80 million women and girls projected to experience IPV annually by 2090 in a 3.5°C scenario.

Sources:

  • "Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Climate Change: A Practitioner's Guide" by the UN Spotlight Initiative.
  • A study cited in the brief finds a 28 per cent increase in femicide during heatwaves.
  • United Nations News (http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/) - Copyright 2025 Multimedia Investments Ltd, distributed by Contify.com.

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