Social and gender justice: the foundation of European climate policies?

Description

In Europe, 2024 was the hottest year on record for the continent, with record-breaking heat stress and widespread flooding that affected more than 400,000 people. According to an article published in 2024 by France Nature Environnement, it is now estimated that, globally, 85% of people who died in climate-related natural disasters and 75% of environmental refugees are women—a statistic frequently cited in analyses of gender vulnerabilities.

Climate impacts exacerbate inequalities related to income, gender, ethnicity, disability, and immigration status; in Europe, immigrant women, women of color, LGBTI+ women, women with disabilities, and isolated women are described as being among the most vulnerable. According to a UN report by the Spotlight Initiative, climate change intensifies the social and economic tensions that fuel rising violence against women and girls. The study reveals that every 1°C increase in global temperature is associated with a 4.7% increase in domestic violence. 

Under a 2°C warming scenario, an additional 40 million women and girls are at risk of experiencing domestic violence each year by 2090. Under a 3.5°C warming scenario, that number more than doubles. In Europe, most studies highlight an amplifying effect on vulnerabilities: heat waves, wildfires, and floods affect everyone, but people already living in precarious conditions have fewer resources to protect themselves or recover. Social minorities are often overrepresented in poorly insulated housing, heat-exposed jobs, and high-risk areas, which increases the health and economic impact.

How can we make social justice and gender justice the explicit foundation of European climate policies (mitigation, financing, adaptation) and regional transitions, while avoiding the reproduction of existing inequalities and ensuring the participation of the most vulnerable groups?

Speakers

• Anne BARRE, Gender and Climate Expert, Women Engaged for a Common Future (WECF)
• Denis DESCHAMPS, Secretary-General of Migrations & Climat
• Corina MURAFA, Member of the Board of the ‘Adaptation to Climate Change’ mission and member of the EESC

Moderator: Yves MATHIEU, Founder and Co-Director of Missions Publiques (tbc)