Climate change is causing an alarming amount of loss and harm to people’s lives and means of subsistence worldwide. Droughts and irregular rainfall patterns brought on by climate change cause crop failures, livestock losses, and even the destruction of homes worldwide. As a result, smallholder farmers who cannot afford to rebuild their homes are forced to flee their homes and seek safety elsewhere. Millions of people have been displaced, disrupting their lives and livelihoods and further limiting their access to basic necessities.

Women, especially young women and girls, are the first and most impacted in any crisis, whether natural or man-made. Socio-cultural norms and gender roles often dictate that girls and young women are responsible for meeting the needs of their families. As a result, they face numerous challenges, such as early marriage for financial gain, dropping out of school to care for family members, and exposure to severe safety risks while living as refugees. These socio-cultural expectations exacerbate the adverse impacts of climate change on girls and young women, who bear the brunt of multifaceted inequalities.

These were the messages shared yesterday by youth advocate Bernice from Ghana at the UN Human Rights Council 56 (HRC56) event supported by the She Leads Consortium. Terre des Hommes Netherlands is a member of the She Leads Consortium which aims to increase the influence of girls and young women in decision-making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions. Three youth advocates Felicity, Korotoumou and Bernice supported by the She Leads Consortium are advocating for multiple priorities  including on climate and new technologies at the HRC56.

As the impact of climate change is a gender and age-sensitive issue that demands gender and age-appropriate solutions, young people urge Member States to take into account multifaceted and sustainable solutions that put gender equality at its core and address the specific needs of all age groups.

She Leads is a five-year joint programme of Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children – ECPAT the Netherlands (DCI-ECPAT), African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), and Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL), in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.