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

This technical brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) summarizes key findings from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (Working Group II) regarding gender, equity, and justice in climate change adaptation. It translates technical scientific data into accessible messages and illustrative examples, specifically contextualized for African geographies, to help practitioners implement more inclusive and effective adaptation strategies.

• Certain demographic groups face higher vulnerability 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 a person's identity but is driven by systemic exclusion and marginalization based on socio-economic characteristics, which restricts decision-making power and access to essential resources and services.
• Climate change impacts are disproportionately felt by vulnerable groups across sectors such as health, water, and food security. For example, water scarcity increases the burden on women and girls responsible for collection and poses greater health risks to the elderly and people with disabilities.
• There is a reinforcing feedback loop where existing marginalization increases climate vulnerability, and the impacts of climate change further exacerbate those inequalities, potentially trapping groups like women and girls in a persistent state of vulnerability.
• Integrating gender, equity, and justice into adaptation planning increases the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of outcomes. Conversely, ignoring these factors increases the risk of 'maladaptation,' where actions inadvertently increase or displace vulnerability for marginalized 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.
• To increase resilience, adaptation must move beyond technocratic solutions to address underlying causes of vulnerability, such as poverty, housing, and health initiatives, through an integrated approach 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} }