Reproductive health powers climate action.

Between 2010 and 2020, climate-related displacement disrupted contraceptive access for over 11.5 million people, extreme heat has increased the individual risk of miscarriage by roughly 10%, and economic instability from the loss of land and livestock has led to increases in gender-based violence—in some cases, this has even resulted in the sale of young daughters as brides to recover lost income.
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In the same way that climate change can impact reproductive health, reproductive health can impact the climate. When women and girls have access to reproductive healthcare, they are healthier, have more agency over their futures, and have greater access to resources like education and income. As a result, they are more resilient to climate shocks and better positioned to lead community-level climate action.

Women and girls are among the first and worst impacted by climate change. In the Global South, many women depend on the land for survival: they farm the majority of land, fetch the majority of water and fuel, and are the caretakers of seeds and livestock. Women and girls are critical first responders when natural disasters strike and are often the first to establish community-based relief in emergencies. They are also integral climate policy advocates, leading efforts to shut down fossil fuel industries, implement community-led renewables, and mandate more sustainable agricultural practices. Despite this, women and girls are often excluded from climate decision-making spaces because of gender inequities, household responsibilities, and longstanding barriers in access to health, education, and leadership opportunities.

Women-driven, community-led solutions have significant potential to reduce emissions. CLIMA Fund—one of the leading regranters to grassroots climate movements—estimates that implementing more sustainable agricultural practices, such as eliminating synthetic fertilizers and increasing local food consumption, could avert 24% to 30% of global emissions. This is roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of the entire country of China. Meanwhile, directly resisting fossil fuel extraction and strengthening Indigenous peoples’ tenure over the lands and forests they manage can ensure protection of 200 gigatons of carbon stored in standing forests and prevent 850 gigatons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. These gains cannot be realized without the leadership and participation of women who farm and manage natural resources.

In addition to their mitigation potential, community-led strategies are essential in building national political support for climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. 

Investing in reproductive healthcare is not only a matter of equity—it’s also a highly underleveraged climate resilience strategy. It has the power to strengthen the very leaders and communities driving some of the world’s most effective, locally rooted climate solutions. For philanthropists seeking scalable, evidence-based pathways to advance their climate goals, investing in reproductive healthcare is a powerful lever to accelerate both climate adaptation and emissions reduction.