When the waters rise - How climate change fuels violence against women

SummaryClimate change isn't just an environmental crisis – it'sa women's rights crisis. From Australia's devastating floods to Pacific Island relocations, climate disasters are driving alarming increases in gender-based violence worldwide.In this eye-opening episode, three leading experts explore the intersection of climate change and violence against women. CEVAW researcher Celeste Harris shares compelling evidence from a systematic review of 27 studies, with almost 90% finding increase. Dr Betty Barkha reveals how climate displacement isforcing Pacific communities from their ancestral lands. And Michelle Higelin from ActionAid Australia showcases powerful community-led solutions that are protecting women and transforming disaster response. Discover why women in displacement camps face heightened violence risks, how loss of land threatens Indigenous identity, and what actually works to keep women safe during climate emergencies. This episode challenges us to see climate action and gender justice as inseparable – and shows how local women's leadership is driving the change we desperately need.GuestsCeleste Harris, CEVAW Research Fellow, Griffith UniversityMichelle Higelin, Executive Director, ActionAidDr Betty Barkha, Pacific Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Technical Advisor, Save the Children AustraliaDomestic violence support servicesTriple Zero (000) in an emergency/immediate threat to life1800RESPECT call 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732 13 YARN call 13 92 76, crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline call 1800 497 212 Men’s Referral Service call 1300 766 491 Find international helpFurther readingBoddy, J., Harris, C., O’Leary, P., Hohenhaus, M., Bond, C., Panagiotaros, C., & Holdsworth, L. (2024). Intersections of Intimate Partner Violence and Natural Disasters: A Systematic Review of the Quantitative Evidence. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(4), 3131-3148. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380241249145Thurston, A. M., Stöckl, H., & Ranganathan, M. (2021). Natural hazards, disasters and violence against women and girls: a global mixed-methods systematic review. BMJ global health, 6(4), e004377. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004377Parkinson, D., & Zara, C. (2013). The hidden disaster: domestic violence in the aftermath of natural disaster. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 28(2), 28-35.Barkha, Betty (2023). Cascading Tides, Invading Lives: Gender and Climate Change-Induced Displacement and Planned Relocation in Fiji. Monash University. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.26180/22818176.v1Pacific Regional Framework on Climate MobilityCorporate climate accountabilityGuardian article- Just 57 companies linked to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions since 2016ActionAid Gender Responsive Alternatives to Climate Change