Vulnerability Assessment and Empowering Solutions for Women's Health in the Face of Climate Change

Climate change has rapidly evolved to become a priority on the global health agenda, as it threatens to impact a wide range of social and environmental determinants of health. The catastrophic health impacts of extreme weather conditions, rising temperatures and sea levels could potentially impact the availability of clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. The health effects of these disruptions could potentially translate into increased burden of diseases, injuries and premature deaths, alongside the debilitating impacts on mental health. Women across the world, especially from developing regions, are more likely to bear the worst effects and suffer poor physical and mental health, violence, and food insecurity.This Special Collection aims to report on the epidemiology of how climate change disproportionately impacts women’s health, discuss unique health challenges and case studies on innovations to address these challenges, with a specific focus on policies and advocacy for women residing in developing regions. Climate Change and Women's Health: Identifying Vulnerabilities and Empowering ResponsesClimate change has rapidly evolved to become a priority on the global health agenda, as it threatens to impact a wide range of social and environmental determinants of health. The catastrophic health impacts of extreme weather conditions, rising temperatures, and rising sea levels could potentially impact the availability of clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. The health effects of these disruptions could lead to an increased burden of diseases, injuries, and premature deaths, alongside significant impacts on mental health. Women across the world, particularly in developing regions, are more likely to bear the worst effects and suffer from poor physical and mental health, violence, and food insecurity.This seminar aims to shed light on the epidemiology of how climate change disproportionately impacts women’s health. It will discuss unique health challenges and present case studies on innovative solutions to address these challenges, with a specific focus on policies and advocacy for women residing in developing regions. By exploring these critical issues, the seminar seeks to empower stakeholders with knowledge and strategies to enhance resilience and health outcomes for women in the face of climate change.Climate Change and Gendered Vulnerability: A Critical Analysis of Women’s HealthThis paper examines the nexus between climate change and women's health vulnerabilities, highlighting the multifaceted impacts and the urgent need for gender-responsive policies. Climate change is recognized as a significant global health threat, with women, especially in low- and middle-income countries, bearing a disproportionate burden. The review synthesizes findings from recent studies, revealing key themes: heightened risks to women’s health, the exacerbation of pre-existing gender inequalities, mental health and well-being challenges, water security and sanitation, and the disproportionate burden of care on women. In this presentation, we will share the importance of integrating gender perspectives in climate change responses and the need for policies that address both immediate and long-term health impacts on women. The evidence suggests that addressing women's health vulnerabilities in the context of climate change requires a comprehensive approach that considers socio-economic, cultural, and environmental factors. The review aims to contribute to action plans that have the potential to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity for women facing climate change challenges.Extreme heat and low birth weights: Evidence from PakistanClimate change poses a significant threat to global health, with profound implications for vulnerable populations, especially pregnant women and their newborns. In Pakistan, a country already grappling with socioeconomic challenges, the impact of climate change on maternal health is a critical concern. Low birth weight (LBW), a leading contributor to neonatal mortality, heavily burdens Pakistan's healthcare system and society. Infants born with LBW, typically weighing below 2,500 grams, face increased risks of mortality and long-term health impairments, including stunted growth and cognitive deficits. This study aims to evaluate the impact of extreme weather conditions—both heat and cold—on LBW and identify high-risk areas for heat exposure across Pakistan. Additionally, it assesses the projected future risk of LBW associated with these extreme weather conditions assuming adaptation to heat impacts. We examined the association between ambient temperature and LBW outcomes using distributed lag nonlinear models combined with a time series study design. This approach allowed us to assess monthly associations between temperature exposure in the last trimester of pregnancy and LBW outcomes among pregnant women from 2008 to 2017. Our analysis utilized women’s health data from nationally representative demographic health surveys and multicluster indicator surveys conducted every 3-5 years. Environmental data were sourced from gridded meteorological data for temperature and humidity from Copernicus ERA5 Land to estimate the heat index, and air pollution data from a global repository maintained by the University of Washington. The risk of LBW among child-bearing mothers ranged from 28.0% to 39.5% at moderate and extreme cold temperatures. Similarly, the cumulative risk of LBW associated with extreme hot weather conditions varied between 22.0% and 32.8%. Our findings indicate that women of child-bearing age in Southern Punjab, the northern districts of Baluchistan, and Sindh are at higher risk of experiencing the negative effects of heat in terms of LBW. For non-adaptation scenarios, the heat-related attributable fraction (AF) is projected to rise from 16.9% to 20%. In adaptation scenarios, it is projected to vary between 16.9% and 18.9%. In conclusion, our study highlights the significant impact of extreme heat on LBW, particularly in vulnerable regions of Pakistan. Strong policy support and international cooperation are essential to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change on maternal and child health. Continued research is necessary to refine our understanding and develop more effective strategies to protect vulnerable populations. By addressing these areas, we can work towards mitigating the impacts of extreme heat on maternal and child health, ensuring healthier outcomes for future generations.Impact of Ambient Heat Exposure on Pregnancy Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic ReviewIncreasing global temperatures due to climate change have raised serious concerns regarding its potential impact on health outcomes. Pregnant women and their foetuses are among the most vulnerable groups being affected by these dramatic changes resulting in adverse outcomes for both the mother and the developing foetus. Evidence regarding heat-related pregnancy adversities in high-income countries (HICs) is conclusive, however, such evidence is rare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thus, our review aimed to bridge the knowledge gap by providing evidence-based insights into the specific repercussions of high heat exposures during pregnancy and its effect on birth outcomes in LMICs. Our study concluded that ambient temperature and heat exposure during pregnancy can impact birth outcomes such as preterm births, LBWs, abortions, and stillbirths in LMICs. Urgent action is imperative on both national and global scales to facilitate a comprehensive and definitive assessment of heat exposure in LMICs, enabling a deeper understanding of its repercussions on pregnant women. Longitudinal studies are paramount for confirming these associations and devising targeted interventions and strategies aimed at enhancing maternal and child health within LMIC contexts. Community-led disaster organising: a gendered perspectiveThis presentation explores the gendered dimensions of rural Australian community disaster responses and resilience building highlighting women’s experiences of and contributions to disaster governance and leadership in the community setting. The presentation draws on qualitative research from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, a rural area on the front line of the climate crisis having been subjected to compounding disasters in the last decade including catastrophic flooding. Whilst gender based violence and other gendered impacts are well rehearsed in the literature, relatively less attention has been paid to women's important role for health and wellbeing of communities during the peak and aftermath of extreme weather-related events like floods. Despite challenges in accessing power and decision making, women played an essential role in community problem solving and circumnavigated challenges using collaborative local approaches. These innovative grass roots approaches led to positive health and wellbeing outcomes for traumatised communities.