Climate change is among the most well-known issues that the world's communities are currently dealing with in the 21st century. It calls into question basic assumptions about what objectives are suitable for socioeconomic policy, including the relationship between equity, growth, prosperity, and sustainable development. Globally, there is a general perception that the long-term resilience of societies and communities is threatened by climate change. The Earth's climate is changing as a result of greenhouse gas emissions brought on by human activity. Particularly impacted are women and girls, who eventually migrate as a result of food scarcity and social gender division. There are few studies on gender and migration brought on by climate change. An overview of the induced effects of climate change on women and girls' migration, health, and means of subsistence is given in this study. The objective of this article would greatly contribute to our comprehension of the existing connections between migration, patterns of displacement, and the effects of climate change.
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Stressed-out resource systems as well as uncertainties associated with socio-economic factors lead to migration and forcible displacements. It has been used as an adaptation strategy in numerous marginal and disadvantaged communities for a long time. This has frequently been connected to weather and water-related events. The Dust Bowl in the United States during the 1930s forced large-scale migration and disproportionately affected the rural poor, including women and children. Currently, more than 60% of total forced displacements have been related to factors associated with climate and water. The World Bank’s updated groundswell report emphasizes that climate change could prompt 216 million people to migrate within their own countries by 2050. After 2050 these climate-related migrations could intensify after 2050 with extreme heat events, declining water availability, and sea level rise being major drivers. The ability to effectively manage migration at different levels such as local, national, regional, and global, is severely constrained by a significant lack of quantitative knowledge and understanding of the direct as well as indirect determinants of migration connected to water and climate.
A comparative examination of climate-induced migration patterns, gender-specific consequences, and adaptation approaches across various geographical areas is presented in Table 1. Through a comprehensive analysis of various geographical contexts, policymakers and stakeholders can acquire valuable knowledge regarding prevalent patterns, obstacles, and inventive strategies to tackle the intricate interrelation among migration, climate change, and gender dynamics. The distinctive attributes and experiences of each region are emphasized, providing significant insights for the creation of interventions tailored to specific contexts and the promotion of international collaboration in endeavors to adapt to climate change. Displacement occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa as a result of drought, desertification, and conflict. In this region, women are primarily involved in domestic resilience and agricultural endeavors, with community initiatives and empowerment programs providing additional support (De Haan et al., 2002). In contrast, South Asia is confronted with migration dynamics that are exacerbated by cyclones, glacial melting, and flooding. These factors contribute to the vulnerability of women to violence and exploitation, underscoring the need for gender-responsive policies in conjunction with efforts to reduce disaster risk and diversify livelihoods (World Bank, 2021). Latin America is currently facing challenges related to rural-to-urban migration and the land rights struggles of indigenous women in the face of deforestation. These women are advocating for water access, forest preservation, and empowerment via environmental movements (IDB, 2019). In the interim, sea-level rise poses a threat of displacement to the Pacific Islands, which has detrimental effects on gendered livelihoods and cultural practices. As a result, climate-resilient infrastructure, the preservation of traditional knowledge, and regional cooperation initiatives are imperative (SPREP, 2020). This investigation reveals the intricate regional dynamics that influence reactions to challenges caused by climate change and emphasizes the critical need for interventions that are tailored to specific contexts and are informed by multidimensional analyses.