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| Photo by Ninno JackJr on Unsplash |
Not once did I consider that there could be a relationship between climate change and sexual and reproductive health rights. Like many people, I often thought of climate change in terms of rising temperatures, floods, and droughts. I recently joined an event hosted by MSI for Women's Reproductive Choices on the discussion of Women’s Voices on Climate Resilience and their Reproductive Choices. Of course, since the event brought light to climate change and how it affects women differently was more centered on how it does, and why it does, so I prepared myself to be educated.
Anisa Berdelima, Global Director of the Evidence and Impact Team from MSI, chaired the program as well as other co-Panelists: Nina Strom, Senior Advisor (SRNR Norad), and Dr. Meg Brown, who is a Lead Researcher at Y-Labs, together with other participants who joined in the discussion on climate change effects on women's reproductive choices
As the event began, my mind began to open to another reality, another possibility —that environmental crises can determine whether women have access to healthcare, family-planning services, and the ability to make decisions about their own bodies and futures.
What struck me most throughout the meeting was the realization that climate change affects women differently because it amplifies inequalities that already exist. Across many societies, women are more likely to live in poverty, shoulder caregiving responsibilities, and depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. These realities often make it harder for them to recover from environmental disasters. The discussions reminded me that climate change does not create these inequalities on its own, but it deepens them, making women and girls among the most vulnerable during times of crisis.
One of the stories that stayed with me was that of a pregnant woman in southern Madagascar who, while caring for her five children, had to endure severe drought and food shortages. Listening to her experience made me reflect on the countless women across Africa, including Nigeria, who face similar hardships during environmental emergencies. In many communities, women are expected to provide food, water, and care for their families even when resources become scarce. Her story reminded me that behind every climate statistic are real people making impossible choices simply to survive. It also made me realize that climate resilience cannot be separated from women's economic and social empowerment.
The discussions on sexual and reproductive health rights further challenged my understanding of climate change. I learned that floods, droughts, and cyclones can disrupt access to healthcare facilities, contraceptives, maternal health services, and menstrual products. Examples from places in Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Madagascar showed how climate disasters can leave women with fewer choices and greater risks. As I listened, I found myself thinking about the recurring floods in parts of Nigeria and the challenges women in affected communities face in accessing essential healthcare. When roads are destroyed and health centres become inaccessible, reproductive rights become much more than policy discussions—they become questions of dignity, safety, and survival.
Another powerful insight from the meeting was that climate change can intensify existing social problems such as gender-based violence, early marriage, and economic dependence. During periods of displacement and hardship, women and girls often become more vulnerable to exploitation and harmful practices. This made me reflect on how climate change is not only an environmental challenge but also a human rights issue. Protecting women during climate emergencies means ensuring that their health, security, and opportunities are not compromised by circumstances beyond their control.
I was equally struck by the conversations around reproductive choices and women's agency. The speakers emphasized that not every woman responds to climate pressures in the same way, and family-planning decisions are shaped by culture, personal values, and individual circumstances. This challenged the assumption that there is a universal response to climate change. Instead, it further highlighted the importance of respecting women's autonomy and ensuring that they have access to the resources and information needed to make informed decisions about their lives.
What resonated with me most was the understanding that climate justice and gender justice are deeply interconnected. When women lack access to land, education, healthcare, or economic opportunities, climate-related disasters often magnify these disadvantages. Conversely, empowering women and including them in climate decision-making processes strengthens the resilience of entire communities. This perspective shifted the way I think about climate action. It is not simply about protecting the environment; it is also about protecting human dignity and ensuring that vulnerable groups are not left behind.
As a young Nigerian and an intern at Shades of Us, I left the meeting with a deeper appreciation for the many ways climate change shapes people's everyday realities. The conversations reminded me that women are not merely victims of climate change but are also leaders, caregivers, and agents of resilience within their communities. Supporting them means creating systems that protect their rights, expand their opportunities, and recognize their voices as central to climate solutions.
Overall, this meeting was more than an educational experience; it was a transformative one. It challenged me to look beyond the scientific and environmental dimensions of climate change and to see the human stories behind the crisis. Most importantly, it reinforced my belief that achieving climate justice requires a commitment to gender equality, reproductive rights, and the collective responsibility to build a future where no woman or girl is left behind.
To end the climate change crisis and its harmful effects on women. Women should be allowed to discuss for themselves
I see women having autonomy as a start and the key to unlocking pathways to play a part in decision-making systems that affect them and deconstructing the existing societal constructs that aid inequalities.
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