A reading by the World Health Organization titled ‘Gender, Climate Change and Health’ that discusses the gender dimensions of human health and climate change. Using specific climatic events such as heatwaves and flooding, the reading discusses some direct and indirect health issues that impact men and women differently. It further discusses issues such as domestic violence and nutrition deficiency and links with climate change. The reading also discusses the increased vulnerability of women to climate risks and hence the need for gender analysis in policy making. The reading also includes discussions on gender-sensitive approaches and gender-responsive interventions to increase health equity and ensure effective climate mitigation and adaptation. The reading is divided into five subtopics:

1. A background of gender, health and climate change
2. Impacts: Health
3. Impacts: social and human consequences of climate change
4. Responses to climate change
5. Conclusion, gaps in understanding and issues for urgent action

Students will learn about gender and health inequity to climate change impacts. They will also learn about health risks of climate change to women, the social and human consequences of climate change, and the need to formulate gender-sensitive climate change policies.