Climate change is one of the most challenging threats humans face. It acts as a “threat multiplier,” intensifying social, political, and economic tensions in fragile and conflict-affected settings.  As climate change accelerates, women and girls face increased vulnerability to gender-based violence, including sexual violence, human trafficking, and child marriage. Furthermore, climate change is deeply connected to systemic racialized violence, aimed at dehumanizing and disenfranchising Indigenous peoples and marginalized communities. Vulnerable populations, especially Indigenous peoples, are on the frontlines of this climate crisis, often facing the loss of ancestral lands and cultural identity.

Indigenous People’s Role in Shaping the World

Indigenous people, who represent about 6.2% of our population, protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity, which is far more than designated protected and conservation areas. Their traditional knowledge has preserved ecosystems for centuries. However, rising sea levels, deforestation, and resource extraction threaten their lands, livelihoods, and cultures. Despite international frameworks such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous lands are often exploited without consultation. As one of the world’s most marginalized groups, Indigenous peoples face poverty, landlessness, and internal displacement, struggling to maintain their way of life and identity.

The Gendered Impact of Climate Change

Climate change disproportionately impacts women, particularly Indigenous women, who are often the primary caregivers and providers for their communities. These women are responsible for securing food, water, and medicine, which are becoming increasingly scarce due to environmental degradation. Extreme weather events and resource shortages force women to travel farther for essentials, exposing them to increased risks of violence, exploitation, and human trafficking. In some areas, economic hardship following climate events has led to an increase in child marriages as families struggle to cope.

Indigenous women also face greater health challenges. Research indicates that rising temperatures contribute to pregnancy complications, while climate-related disasters disrupt access to reproductive healthcare. For example, following Hurricanes Eta and Iota in Honduras, over 180,000 women lost access to essential family planning resources.

The Role of Indigenous People in Fighting Climate Change

Despite these challenges, Indigenous women remain essential to climate action. Their deep connection to nature makes them invaluable in conservation efforts, sustainable agriculture, and the protection of biodiversity. They hold ancestral knowledge about medicinal plants from their areas, water preservation, and farming techniques, that have sustained their communities for generations.

However, their contributions are often overlooked in decision-making spaces. Women, but most particularly Indigenous women, are underrepresented in climate negotiations and policy-making. While they are leaders in their own communities, they are often overlooked on the national or international scene.

Climate Justice: How International Law Is Failing Indigenous Communities and Women

International law protects Indigenous peoples’ rights, however, their recognition is often challenged. Many Indigenous people live in remote areas with little access to legal resources, making it difficult to defend their land rights. Language barriers, discrimination, and a lack of political representation only isolate them from justice.

Even though environmental injustices are internationally recognized, enforcement remains weak. For example, six youth activists sued 33 European countries for failing to act on climate change. While this case gained global attention, Indigenous climate cases rarely receive the same recognition. However, landmark cases such as the the U´wa community´s battle against the oil companies demonstrate the growing role of Indigenous litigants in climate justice.

While such efforts are commendable, more litigation is needed to ensure Indigenous voices are heard and that legal systems uphold their environmental rights. Stronger enforcement mechanisms are needed as Indigenous communities continue to face land grabs, environmental destruction, and human rights violations.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

Nancy Fraser is pioneering in defining climate justice, arguing that it relies on the recognition and respect of diverse identities and knowledge; the redistribution of resources; and the meaningful participation of women and marginalized groups in decision-making. Climate change requires new forms of justice, as our current legal system has failed to prevent global warming and states continue to disregard international agreements. Distributive justice and procedural justice are necessary. However, misrepresentation remains a barrier. Political structures prevent directly affected groups from obtaining equitable representation in decision-making processes. Despite women’s significant contribution as leaders, activists, or scholars, they represent only 15% of environmental ministers, limiting the implementation of effective climate strategies. With just over 4 years to limit global warming to +1.5°C, diverse perspectives are needed to address this multifaceted emergency. Gender action has been integrated into the Rio conventions, but remains underdeveloped in climate governance.

True climate reparation requires a transformative framework centered around systemic change, trust, and cooperation. Climate justice is not attainable within existing colonial political systems. It can only be achieved through reforms in governance and constitutional arrangements to re-establish Indigenous natural laws.