With the COP26 climate conference wrapping up this week in Glasgow, everyone’s been talking about climate change and its impacts. But I’ve noticed something missing from the conversations: the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and girls, including on their reproductive health.

In Mozambique, I see that impact playing out right now, as more cyclones and extreme flooding make life much more challenging for coastal communities, especially for women and girls (you can read some of their personal stories here). For people in my country—and those around the world living on the frontlines of the climate crisis—the power to control when and if they have children is crucial to their ability to survive and thrive. Yet access to contraception and abortion often becomes more limited in these places due to climate-related disruptions.

We need our leaders to get this message.

During the COP 26 climate conference, Ipas has been advocating to make reproductive justice part of the global climate action plan. That’s why I coauthored an op-ed with MSI Reproductive Choices’ Senegal country director on how there will be no climate justice without reproductive justice too.

We want leaders to understand that climate change policies and programs must empower women and girls as key players in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Because women and girls are not just “victims” of climate change. Far from it! They can and must be leaders in helping the global community solve this crisis—and they are often best positioned to help us find holistic approaches based on their own lived experiences.

If you agree that reproductive justice must be part of the climate change conversation, please help us spread the word! You can share the links to resources I’ve included here with family and friends. Raising awareness is a crucial first step, and I’m grateful to all those who are helping us take this message to the world.

In solidarity,

Jorge
 
Jorge Matine
Director, Ipas Mozambique