How the climate crisis is connected to sexual rights
The climate crisis affects us all. RFSU's vision is a world where everyone is free to decide about their body and sexuality. But how is that work connected to the climate crisis?
RFSU and our international partners are currently making efforts to highlight this important connection.
How does the climate crisis affect SRHR?
Increasing injustice
The climate crisis exacerbates injustice, where those who contributes the least to the climate crisis are often hit the hardest. It is estimated that between 1990 and 2015 the richest 10 percent of the world accounted for more than half of the carbon dioxide emissions, while the poorest half contributed seven percent.
More extreme weather prevents access to health care
The climate crisis leads to more extreme weather conditions, such as floods and severe droughts, which affect access to sexual and reproductive health services. In floods, clinics and the roads to them are destroyed, and the water used in the clinics is polluted. It prevents, for example, access to menstrual protection, contraceptives and safe births. Increased maternal mortality may be a consequence.
More sexual and gender-based violence as people flee
People flee when they cannot live in an area exposed to climate disasters. We know that sexual and gender-based violence increases during crises and when people are on the run. We can expect this type of violence to increase even more in the wake of the climate crisis.
LGBTQI people are particularly vulnerable during climate disasters, as they often lack access to shelter and healthcare from the outset.
How can SRHR contribute to solutions to the climate crisis?
Sexual and reproductive health and rights, SRHR, make communities more resilient. Access to contraception, safe abortion, sex education and protection against gender-based violence is central to achieving greater equality. SRHR strengthens individuals' opportunities to contribute to measures that make people and societies more resilient to climate change. Therefore, SRHR must be a central part of the climate solutions.
What is the way forward? RFSU believes that:
Solutions to the climate crisis need to address the root causes of its emergence, such as unevenly distributed resources, greenhouse gas emissions and overconsumption. Countries with high emissions have a special responsibility to reduce them.
Equality is crucial for people to be able to take power over their bodies, health and lives, and to be able to participate in solutions to the climate crisis. We know things like access to contraceptives, sex education and protection against gender-based violence are absolutely central to achieving greater equality. SRHR is a cornerstone that makes people and societies more equipped for the consequences of the climate crisis. If we want to reach resilient communities, SRHR must be prioritized.
People who themselves are affected by the climate crisis, not least already discriminated groups, need to be allowed to participate in the climate policy processes.
More research is needed on how SRHR contributes to increased resilience and on how the climate crisis affects SRHR negatively.