Issue 7: Why the Fight for Climate Justice is Also a Fight for Girls’ Rights
This week, I explore the alarming link between climate disasters and child marriage, revealing how extreme weather, poverty, and gender inequality are fuelling a rise in forced marriages.
In the winter of 2022, as I was getting ready for school, I put on a TED Talk podcast, something I often did in the mornings because I found it more stimulating than music. That day's episode was titled Why Climate Change is a Code Red for Girls by Dr. Faith Mwangi-Powell, CEO of Girls Not Brides, the world's largest global platform and partnership of over 1,600 organizations across 100 countries, all working towards a future where girls have equal status with boys and can choose whom they want to marry.
Captivated by the surprising link between climate change and child marriage, I immersed myself in the episode. Dr. Mwangi-Powell explained that in disaster-stricken areas facing drought and food shortages, families often resort to child marriage as a survival strategy to reduce the number of mouths to feed. Unsurprisingly, girls bear the brunt of this crisis. She cited a staggering statistic: every year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18, that’s 23 girls every minute. And given that these numbers are from three years ago, they’ve likely increased significantly.
As I discussed in Issue 4: How to Be an Effective Altruist: Just Give Money to the Poor!, my research has always focused on finding ways to support the most vulnerable in crisis situations, particularly women and children. This TED Talk deeply resonated with me because it touched on two issues I am deeply passionate about: women's rights and climate justice.
This talk not only sparked my curiosity but also planted a seed that has stayed with me for the past three years. At the time, I lacked both the platform and the confidence to share my thoughts and research on the issue. But with International Women’s Month approaching, I feel more compelled than ever to start this conversation and shed light on the intersection of climate change and girls' rights.
The Reality: Climate Change and Child Marriage
As Dr. Mwangi-Powell noted, as of 2022, 12 million girls were married before the age of 18 annually. Unfortunately, according to a Save the Children report, these numbers are projected to more than double by 2050. By then, an additional 40 million girls will face the dual threats of climate change and child marriage. Bangladesh and sub-Saharan Africa have already become emergency hotspots for girls' rights, as these regions suffer from increasingly severe weather events alongside conflict, extreme poverty, gender inequality, and hunger.
You might wonder why and how girls are the most vulnerable in times of crisis. To understand this, we must first define vulnerability in the context of disasters. In The Gendered Nature of Natural Disasters: The Impact of Catastrophic Events on the Gender Gap in Life Expectancy (1981-2002), researchers Eric Neumayer and Thomas Plümper define vulnerability as the characteristics of a person or group that influence their ability to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from natural hazards. They emphasize that disaster impact is not determined solely by nature, it is shaped by social structures, which means vulnerability differs based on factors like gender, ethnicity, and class.
Neumayer and Plümper identify three main reasons why women and girls are disproportionately affected by disasters:
Biological and Physiological Differences
Physiological differences can impact survival rates during disasters. For example, men often have greater physical strength, which can help them withstand the force of floods or cyclones. In some regions, boys are traditionally taught to swim or climb trees, survival skills that are rarely taught to girls. In Sri Lanka, for instance, swimming and tree climbing are considered male activities, putting women and girls at a significant disadvantage when escaping rising waters.Social Norms and Gender Roles
Social expectations often place women in caregiving roles, responsible for children, the elderly, and household property. This limits their ability to evacuate quickly in emergencies. Cultural dress codes can also hinder movement. In rural Bangladesh, for instance, women traditionally wear saris, which can restrict their ability to run or swim. Moreover, societal norms may prevent women from seeking safety without male permission, further endangering their lives.Discrimination in Resource Access & Breakdown of Social Order
Even after a disaster, gender discrimination continues to put women at a disadvantage. Rescue efforts often prioritize men, reflecting deep-seated biases that devalue girls’ lives. A tragic example from Bangladesh illustrates this reality: during the 1991 cyclone, a father, unable to hold on to both his son and daughter, chose to let go of his daughter because his son was expected to carry on the family name.
Additionally, men tend to control relief distribution, often sidelining women’s needs. Economist Amartya Sen found that in many parts of the world, food within families is distributed unequally, with girls and young children receiving the least. After natural disasters, this bias worsens. In Mozambique in the late 1990s, relief efforts favoured men, leaving women and girls more vulnerable to malnutrition.
The consequences of disasters extend beyond immediate survival. Women, often responsible for securing water, food, and firewood, face an increased burden after a crisis. Meanwhile, relief efforts are typically led by men, excluding women’s voices from recovery initiatives. In refugee camps, where lawlessness prevails, women and girls are at greater risk of sexual violence, and inadequate hygiene facilities further compromise their health and dignity.
The Link Between Climate Change, Poverty, and Forced Marriage
Understanding these vulnerabilities helps clarify the connection between environmental disasters, poverty, and child marriage. Climate disasters, such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes, destroy homes, farmland, and livelihoods, pushing families deeper into poverty. In desperation, some families turn to child marriage as a financial strategy, either to reduce household expenses or secure a dowry.
Dr. Mwangi-Powell shared the story of a 12-year-old girl from India who was married off due to financial hardship and became a mother by 13. Similarly, Save the Children highlighted the case of Kpemeh from Sierra Leone, whose parents, struggling as subsistence farmers impacted by climate change, agreed to her marriage at age 12. Fortunately, with support from Save the Children, Kpemeh escaped the marriage and now advocates for girls’ right to education.
Environmental disasters not only deepen poverty but also exacerbate gender inequalities. Displaced girls face heightened risks of food insecurity, lack of education, and restricted access to healthcare, all factors that increase their susceptibility to child marriage.
Case Studies: The Global Impact
With all this discussion about climate change’s effect on child marriages, I think providing two country case studies would help put things into perspective. So far, I’ve highlighted how women and girls in Bangladesh are disproportionately affected by disasters. To offer a broader view, I’ll also include a case study from Mozambique.
1. Bangladesh: Rising Waters, Rising Marriages
Bangladesh’s extreme weather events, frequent floods and cyclones, not only displace families and undermine livelihoods but also drive a dramatic rise in child marriage rates. This phenomenon, often referred to as flood marriages, is a stark example of how climate change exacerbates gender and economic vulnerabilities.
As one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, Bangladesh experiences repeated flooding and cyclones, which wash away homes, farmlands, and livelihoods. Between 2014 and 2023, nearly 15 million Bangladeshis were displaced due to climate disasters, with 10.3 million displaced by storms and 4.3 million by floods. These disasters destroy homes, disrupt education, and force families into migration, increasing their economic and social vulnerabilities.
With agricultural lands eroded and income sources depleted, many families struggle to survive. As a desperate coping mechanism, some turn to child marriage, viewing it as a way to reduce the financial burden and, in some cases, secure a dowry that provides immediate relief. According to Share-Net Bangladesh, approximately 4 million girls under 18 are forced into marriage every year. A recent International Rescue Committee (IRC) assessment revealed a staggering 39% surge in child marriages in disaster-prone coastal regions due to climate-induced crises. As a result, half of all girls in Bangladesh are married before turning 18, with at least 22% married before 15.
In communities where early marriage is already socially accepted, disasters further push families into extreme measures. One NGO worker in a report from the Human Rights Watch explained:
“Because of river erosion, people think girls are a burden. If someone offers to marry their daughter, they don’t wait. Families fear losing their home and being forced to move, which makes it harder to find a husband later. Meanwhile, the girl is getting older, and the dowry is increasing.”
The rise in child marriages post-disaster is evident both statistically and in personal accounts. 86.1% of girls face increased domestic duties, 37.4% take on greater caregiving responsibilities, and 30.9% lose access to education, all of which make marriage seem like a viable option for struggling families.
This case study underscores the urgent need for integrated disaster response and social protection measures, addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and the underlying drivers of child marriage.
2. Mozambique: Droughts and Desperation
Like Bangladesh, Mozambique is experiencing climate-induced crises that have intensified child marriage. However, in Mozambique’s case, severe droughts have worsened food insecurity, pushing families into desperate measures, including child marriage.
Mozambique is currently facing a severe food security crisis. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), approximately 3.3 million people in Mozambique today cannot afford adequate food, with nearly 770,000 experiencing emergency levels of hunger. Between April and September 2024, 2.79 million people faced acute food insecurity, a number expected to rise to 3.2 million between October 2024 and March 2025.
The drought has devastated agriculture, particularly maise, the country’s staple crop. Nearly 720,000 tonnes of maise were lost, equating to $249 million in losses or 7% of Mozambique’s agricultural GDP. The resulting food shortages have driven up staple food prices, making it even harder for families, especially the poorest, to afford basic necessities.
In response, some families see child marriage as a means of survival, reducing the number of mouths to feed and shifting financial responsibility to a husband’s family. However, this practice has severe long-term consequences:
Health risks: Child brides face higher risks of early pregnancy complications, maternal mortality, sexually transmitted infections, and domestic violence.
Education loss: Many girls drop out of school after marriage, limiting their opportunities and perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Psychological distress: Early marriage robs girls of childhood, isolates them socially, and restricts personal development.
Economic dependence: With little education and limited skills, child brides struggle to find employment or gain financial independence.
Gender inequality: Early marriage reinforces traditional gender roles and power imbalances, slowing progress toward gender equality.
The immediate economic desperation caused by climate change not only forces families to make hard choices today but also undermines the future health, education, and well-being of Mozambique’s next generation of girls.
Why Protecting Girls Is Essential
When we look at Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5)—which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030, it’s clear that protecting girls is more critical than ever. Ensuring every girl can live a life of choice, freedom, and opportunity is not just a moral imperative; it’s essential for building healthier, more prosperous societies.
Under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1 states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, while Article 2 explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sex. These rights include the right to determine one’s own future, meaning that child marriage directly violates a girl’s fundamental human rights.
International Women’s Month plays a key role in advocating for girls' rights and ending harmful practices like child marriage. This annual observance:
Raises global awareness about the impact of child marriage.
Mobilizes support for policies that promote gender equality.
Amplifies the voices of young activists demanding change.
For example, in 2018, young activists in Indonesia used International Women’s Day to call for an end to child marriage in a country where 275 girls marry every day. Events like these place pressure on policymakers and drive real change.
In essence, protecting girls is essential because it upholds human rights, breaks cycles of poverty and inequality, and ensures a more equitable future for everyone.
Solutions: Breaking the Cycle
Ending child marriage requires a multi-faceted approach involving policies, community-driven initiatives, climate resilience programs, and global advocacy.
Policy interventions: While many countries have laws prohibiting child marriage, enforcement remains a challenge. Legal frameworks must be complemented by policies that address poverty and gender inequality.
Community-led solutions:
Comprehensive sexuality education helps girls understand their rights.
Programs like Ishraq (Egypt) and DISHA (India) provide safe spaces for girls.
Cash transfers and scholarships incentivize families to keep girls in school, like the Zomba Cash Transfer Program in Malawi, which significantly reduced child marriage rates.
Community dialogues and campaigns help shift harmful social norms.
Climate resilience programs:
Communities need better adaptation strategies, with women leading decision-making.
Economic alternatives for climate-affected families, especially single-mother households, must be prioritized.
Child marriage prevention should be integrated into climate adaptation programs.
Global advocacy:
NGOs like VOW for Girls support 177 grassroots organizations working to end child marriage.
Girls Not Brides partners with 1,400+ organizations across 100+ countries.
UNICEF and other UN agencies advocate for policy changes and provide national program support.
Individuals can help by supporting organizations, raising awareness, and advocating within their communities.
As Clay Dunn, CEO of VOW for Girls, puts it:
“The solutions to ending child marriage already exist in communities. Our role is to amplify these efforts, ensure resources reach those on the frontlines, and give girls the opportunities they need to shape their own futures.”
A Call to Action
The growing link between climate change and the rise in child marriage is an issue that deeply concerns me, as more and more girls are losing their autonomy at an alarming rate. We must start having open conversations about how climate change not only impacts our planet but also disproportionately affects girls worldwide. As we approach International Women’s Month this weekend, I encourage you to take the time to learn more about the intersection of climate change and gender inequality and to share that knowledge with others because every girl deserves a future shaped by her own choices, not by the pressures of crises and disasters.
And on that note, I hope you all have an amazing week. See you next Monday for your weekly 🥐!