Climate change and environmental degradation are driving up violence against women and standing in the way of sustainable goals, according to a new report released by the environmental organization International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Worsening conditions across the globe could lead to even more violence as natural resources shrink. The most vulnerable are often hurt disproportionately by environmental issues: A report by the Lancet Countdown found that children and pregnant women will suffer from rising temperatures and air pollution in the coming decades; African American communities are more at risk from air pollution; and people of color, particularly Native Americans, are more at risk from wildfires. In the latest report, researchers studied the links between environmental issues (including deforestation, illegal mining, weather-related disasters, drought, and climate change) and instances of gender-based violence. People of any gender can experience acts of violence, including domestic violence, sexual assault, forced prostitution, and other acts of abuse. Because of social and cultural norms, women and gender minorities are often most at risk. Combining information from peer-reviewed research, organizational reports, news articles, case studies, and IUCN’s survey, the authors found close links between worsening environmental stressors and an uptick in gender-based violence. To view the full article visit Ecos.org.
