Women paying the health cost of the climate crisis

As the impacts of climate change become increasingly apparent, communities worldwide are grappling with both economic and non-economic losses and damages. While economic impacts often receive attention through policy and programming, the non-economic losses remain largely invisible and unaddressed, particularly in climate finance. The need to quantify the full spectrum of climate impacts to develop targeted, effective responses is urgent.

This online event on Thursday 7 March included a panel discussion and launch a new paper that quantifies the loss and damage faced by women battling drought, debt bondage and migration.

Focusing on women in Beed, India, this event showed how women are disproportionately affected by climate change. We examined the connections between climate-induced droughts and debt bondage, and significant impacts on women's physical and mental health – leading to drastic health decisions.

We introduced attendees to the innovative C-CIQ methodology, which is a comprehensive approach allowing for in-depth assessment of climate change impacts, encompassing not only physical and economic aspects but also the social, cultural and psychological wellbeing of individuals and communities.

The C-CIQ methodology, with its emphasis on simplicity, replicability and clarity, aims to provide a framework for quantifying non-economic loss and damage through composite indices, making it a valuable tool for practitioners and policymakers in diverse contexts.

This event was essential for all stakeholders involved in climate change loss and damage, adaptation, migration and development, offering a platform to broaden the discourse on climate change impacts and foster collaborative solutions.