Journalism ResourcesFOREIGN PRESS USAClimate Change, Climate Crisis, Climate Reporting, Best Practices, Gender Equity, Gender Inequality, Women

The Gender-Climate Connection: A Journalist's Guide to Inclusive Reporting

Journalism ResourcesFOREIGN PRESS USAClimate Change, Climate Crisis, Climate Reporting, Best Practices, Gender Equity, Gender Inequality, Women
The Gender-Climate Connection: A Journalist's Guide to Inclusive Reporting

Gender inequality and the climate crisis are deeply intertwined, presenting significant challenges that affect women and girls worldwide. This intersection poses threats to their ways of life, livelihoods, health, safety, and security, making it one of the most pressing issues of our time, as emphasized by the United Nations.

While climate change is a collective problem, its impacts disproportionately burden women and girls. According to The New York Times, around 80 percent of individuals displaced by climate change are women. The ramifications of this crisis include displacement, homelessness, poverty, sexual violence, and disease, all of which weigh heavily on women.

Moreover, women's underrepresentation in climate discussions further exacerbates these inequalities. The BBC notes that extreme weather events intensify existing societal disparities, and women's voices are often marginalized in climate talks, limiting their influence on effective solutions.

For journalists, it is crucial to recognize that climate change is not gender-neutral. To report accurately on climate issues, journalists should consider the following:

  • Acknowledge Gendered Impact: The impact of climate change amplifies existing gender inequalities, which is a crucial aspect of the story.

  • Use Gender-Disaggregated Data: Reporting should incorporate gender-disaggregated data, which involves collecting and tabulating data separately for women and men. This approach allows journalists to uncover hidden disparities and issues.

By segmenting data by gender, region, or marginalized groups, journalists can reveal a more comprehensive and nuanced picture of the climate crisis. Disaggregated data highlights how different genders are affected differently, providing essential insights.

Several resources are available to journalists to help address this data gap:

  • The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) offers a report that provides evidence and analysis on the gendered impacts of climate change, showcasing how more women face premature mortality due to environmental degradation.

  • Data2X provides open-access data tools that link to the World Bank Gender Data Portal, offering over 900 indicators in an accessible format.

  • The "Gender Data Solutions Inventory" from Data2X records over 140 gender data solutions across various areas of development, including the environment and climate.

To effectively cover the climate crisis, it is essential to tell the stories of those most affected by it. Women are often on the frontlines of this crisis, and their experiences should be documented and shared.