Mobilizing Knowledge on Gender, Equity, and Justice in Climate Change Adaptation

The document unpacks the IPCC's findings on how systemic inequalities—including gender, race, and socio-economic status—increase vulnerability to climate change. It argues that adaptation efforts are more effective and less likely to be maladaptive when they incorporate inclusive participation, diverse knowledge systems, and a focus on climate justice. The brief uses illustrative examples from Africa to demonstrate how marginalized groups, such as Indigenous Peoples and women, experience disproportionate impacts and how community-based, human rights-based approaches can generate social co-benefits.

• Certain demographic groups are more susceptible to climate change impacts, including women, children, the elderly, people living with disabilities, people in poverty, Indigenous Peoples, and those facing discrimination based on race, ethnicity, caste, sexuality, or gender identity.
• Vulnerability is not inherent to identity but is driven by systemic exclusion and marginalization based on gender, race, wealth, and social status, which restricts access to resources, services, and decision-making power.
• Climate change impacts are felt disproportionately across various sectors. For example, water scarcity increases the burden on women and girls responsible for collection and increases risks of violence, while heat waves disproportionately affect pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities due to physiological differences.
• A feedback loop exists where existing marginalization increases climate vulnerability, and the resulting climate impacts further exacerbate inequalities, potentially trapping groups like women and girls in a persistent state of vulnerability due to increased unpaid care burdens.
• Adaptation planning that integrates gender, equity, and justice is more cost-effective and successful. Conversely, ignoring these factors increases the risk of maladaptation, where actions increase or displace vulnerability for other groups.
• Effective adaptation requires a combination of scientific data and Indigenous and local knowledge. Examples include the use of 'hayit' (earth walls) for flood protection in South Sudan and controlled early-season burns to manage wildfire risk in Namibia.
• Resilience can be strengthened by expanding adaptation beyond technical solutions to address root causes of vulnerability, such as poverty reduction, health initiatives, and social safety nets, a concept termed 'climate-resilient development'.

APA

Hunter, C., & Dazé, A. (2024). Mobilizing Knowledge on Gender, Equity, and Justice in Climate Change Adaptation. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-09/gender-equity-climate-change-adaptation-ipcc.pdf

Chicago

Hunter, Cameron, and Angie Dazé. Mobilizing Knowledge on Gender, Equity, and Justice in Climate Change Adaptation. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-09/gender-equity-climate-change-adaptation-ipcc.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hunter |first1=Cameron |last2=Dazé |first2=Angie |title=Mobilizing Knowledge on Gender, Equity, and Justice in Climate Change Adaptation |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=September 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-09/gender-equity-climate-change-adaptation-ipcc.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hunter2024mobilizing, author = {Hunter, Cameron and Dazé, Angie}, title = {{Mobilizing Knowledge on Gender, Equity, and Justice in Climate Change Adaptation}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-09/gender-equity-climate-change-adaptation-ipcc.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }