Climate Change and Women: A Case Study of South Punjab

According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is not just an environmental crisis — it is a silent disaster breaking the backs and spirits of women in South Punjab. These women already shoulder immense daily hardships, and now, worsening weather and dwindling resources have made their lives even more painful and uncertain.

Water, the basic source of life, has turned into a cruel enemy. Pakistan’s National Water Policy reveals that the amount of water available per person has dropped drastically from 5,300 cubic meters in 1951 to less than 1,000 today — a catastrophic decline that has rendered Pakistan a water-stressed nation.

For women like Zainab, who live in remote villages, fetching water has become a grueling ordeal. “We walk miles under the scorching sun, carrying heavy pots, sometimes three times a day,” she says with tired eyes. This exhausting chore takes away valuable time from children’s education — especially for girls, many of whom are forced to quit school to help their families collect water.

According to UNICEF, about 70% of households in rural Pakistan lack access to safely managed drinking water, forcing women and girls to walk long distances. This increases school dropout rates. UNESCO reports that in water-scarce regions, girls are 40 percent more likely to drop out of school, sacrificing their future just to survive.

The lack of water also makes it difficult for women to maintain hygiene, cook food, or care for their families — exposing them to disease and social stigma.

Farming is the backbone of life in South Punjab, and women play a vital role in sowing and harvesting crops. But the shifting climate has turned the earth against them. Less rainfall, rising temperatures, and prolonged droughts have destroyed crops and livelihoods.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Punjab’s farming output has dropped by 15 percent over the past decade. Fatima, a mother of four, says bitterly, “When the wheat fails, we have nothing to eat. My children go hungry, and so do I.”

This food shortage has deepened malnutrition. The National Nutrition Survey shows that 44 percent of children under five in rural Punjab suffer from stunted growth — a direct consequence of mothers’ inability to adequately feed their families.

Climate change has also stolen many girls’ education. The constant burden of fetching water and doing household chores leaves little time or energy for school. Early marriages — sometimes as “monsoon brides” during flood seasons to reduce financial burdens — force many young girls into adult responsibilities before they are ready. This cruel practice shatters their dreams and perpetuates cycles of poverty and vulnerability.

The toll on women’s health is harsh and often invisible. Heatwaves, water scarcity, and climate-borne diseases are impacting women’s bodies, particularly their sexual and reproductive health.

Pregnant women face grave risks. Studies show that heat stress increases the likelihood of premature births, low birth weights, and miscarriages. Dr. Ayesha, a gynecologist in Mianwali, shares, “We see more anemia, infections, dehydration, and complications in pregnancy — all linked to the harsh climate.”

The lack of clean water worsens urinary and reproductive infections, which can lead to long-term infertility. Managing menstruation becomes a painful struggle without access to water or privacy, increasing both shame and health risks.

Moreover, climate-related stress and displacement often lead to an increase in gender-based violence and early marriages — further eroding young women’s rights and well-being.

Indoor air pollution from cooking with wood or dung adds another layer of suffering, causing respiratory diseases that silently undermine women’s health.

The unending pressure of climate disasters is breaking women’s spirits. The constant fear of food shortages, disease, and water scarcity causes deep anxiety and depression.

The World Health Organization warns that mental health issues rise by 25 percent in climate-affected areas, with women bearing the brunt due to social pressures and limited access to care.

Rabia, a mother of three, confesses, “Some days, the worry is so heavy, I feel like giving up. There is no relief, no hope.”

Climate change is not just damaging nature — it is deepening centuries-old injustices against women. According to the Pakistan Gender Equality Report 2022, only 5 percent of rural women own land, leaving most without control over farming or financial resources needed to combat climate threats.

This lack of power traps women in poverty, making it nearly impossible for them to adapt or recover.

Yet, despite these harsh realities, women are refusing to give up. They are banding together to conserve water, plant drought-resistant crops, and start kitchen gardens to nourish their families.

Sana Khan, an environmental activist, says, “Women hold the knowledge to protect nature. With support and education, they can become the strongest warriors against climate change.”

The suffering of women in South Punjab is a stark reminder that climate change is not just about melting glaciers or rising sea levels — it is about broken lives and lost futures.

A World Bank report (2020) warns that by 2050, climate change could push an additional 4.5 million Pakistanis into poverty, with women in rural areas being the hardest hit.

To build a better Pakistan, we must center women’s needs and voices in climate policy. That means ensuring access to education, healthcare, land rights, and mental health support. Only by empowering women can we hope to heal our communities — and the planet.