Women are the victims of climate change – and the keys to climate action | Mary Robinson and Melanne Verveer

Women bear severe gendered impacts of climate change but systematically lack equal representation in decision-making. That's a problem

As the nations of the world meet in Paris to address climate change, it is critical that women play a central role in these historic negotiations. Gender equality is central to effective climate action. The world cannot afford to neglect the needs of half the world's population, nor ignore their talents and potential in innovating solutions.

Structural and cultural disparities make women disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Women are more likely than men to die during and in the aftermath of natural disasters and climate change-related events. For the women who survive, many often lack legal assets and rights to property, which leaves them few resources with which to rebuild their lives. As women travel greater distances to collect essential resources like water, firewood and food to support their families, they are often threatened and abused.