Women Bear Climate Crisis Burden: UNGCNI

Women are significantly more impacted by climate change, yet the capital allocated to support them represents a mere fraction of the required amount, according to Vaishali Nigam Sinha, president of the UN Global Compact Network India (UNGCNI). She stated that only about 10% of the needed funding is reaching women affected by climate-related disasters.

A UN Women report from 2025 projected that under a severe climate scenario, over 158 million additional women and girls globally might experience extreme poverty by 2050. This is compounded by practical challenges women face, particularly in rural areas where unrecognised, unpaid work in sectors like farming is directly affected by extreme weather, impacting their livelihoods and mental health.

Sinha emphasized that a systematic approach and measurable outcomes are crucial for effective implementation of climate action and gender inclusion goals, especially for Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) by the 2030 deadline. She also noted that while artificial intelligence can exacerbate gender disparity, it also offers significant opportunities for girls' education and access to novel career paths, particularly in developing nations like India, provided appropriate guardrails are in place.

The UNGCNI recently convened over 200 leaders at its 9th Gender Equality summit to discuss private sector actions promoting gender equality and women's leadership.