Link between reproductive health, rights, and climate change resilience

Links between women’s sexual and reproductive health and the impacts of climate change are made clear in the recent Working Group II report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). For the first time, the authors note the risks pregnant women face in a changing climate. They also cite increased access to reproductive health and family planning services as contributing to climate change resilience.

The New Humanitarian states that conversations around global climate policy have long paid little attention to the connection between sexual and reproductive health and climate change. Policymakers often do not see such links, resulting in policies that fail to consider the realities and needs of women, girls, and other marginalised populations.