Empowering Feminist Climate Justice: A Path Forward for Ireland and the EU

The climate crisis is hitting Europe hard, especially impacting women and marginalized communities. Although climate change affects us all, those in vulnerable positions face the greatest hardships. Researchers Catherine Forde and Fiona Dukelow highlight how Irish and EU climate policies often overlook these disparities.

In the summer of 2025, Europe experienced extreme heat and drought, leading to devastating wildfires, particularly around the Mediterranean. The widespread destruction has shown how quickly climate change can escalate. The European Environment Agency has reported that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, a trend that’s likely to continue.

Vulnerable groups, especially women, are facing the worst consequences. Essential areas, such as agriculture and water, are particularly affected. The European Environment Agency warns that current climate policies are failing to address structural inequalities. They emphasize the need for more inclusive governance that actively involves communities in climate action planning.

Gender and climate issues are intertwined. Social identities—like class, gender, race, and sexuality—shape women’s experiences with climate change. In Ireland, single mothers in rented housing are often hit hardest by energy poverty. Without targeted policies, these inequalities are likely to grow.

While Ireland has set ambitious climate goals through its annual climate action plans, they frequently miss the mark when it comes to addressing women’s unique challenges. Reports indicate that key areas—such as transportation and energy efficiency—often follow an androcentric perspective, failing to account for the specific ways in which women are affected.

Inequalities persist because Irish climate policies often ignore women’s disproportionate vulnerabilities in energy, housing, and mobility.

Data collection in Irish climate policy rarely focuses on gender, leaving women’s experiences largely excluded. For example, while care work is crucial for climate resilience, it is nearly absent in the policy framework. This lack of attention to systemic issues substantially limits women’s participation in climate initiatives.

At the EU level, agreements like the 2015 Paris Agreement recognize the importance of gender in climate action. However, a 2022 report from the European Commission’s Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men warns that many policies remain “gender blind.” The European Green Deal is criticized for its focus on male-dominated industries, which limits its effectiveness in achieving gender equality.

Critics of the European Green Deal have pointed out that it fails to include an intersectional approach that addresses women’s unique needs.

The Advisory Committee calls for climate actions to be “gender transformative.” This means recognizing and amplifying women’s roles and integrating their concerns into all aspects of climate policy. The need for inclusivity is echoed in the recent report from UN Women, which outlines a framework called “Feminist Climate Justice: A Framework for Action”. This report emphasizes the importance of addressing the uneven distribution of climate harms and gives high importance to the representation of women in decision-making processes.

UN Women identifies three main actions—redistribution, recognition, and representation—to guide efforts for climate justice. Discussing these actions helps highlight the importance of varied knowledge, including lived experiences that are often ignored in mainstream discussions.

The Three Rs of Feminist Climate Justice

1. **Redistribution**: Focus on fair distribution of resources and responsibilities.
2. **Recognition**: Acknowledge diverse experiences and contributions.
3. **Representation**: Ensure women have a voice in decision-making.

Ultimately, Ireland and other EU nations must adopt gender mainstreaming in all climate policies. This includes enforcing gender impact assessments, elevating women’s leadership, and ensuring fair funding distribution. Additionally, the EU should promote the collection of sex-disaggregated data to better inform climate actions. By prioritizing these changes, a shift from gender-blind policies to inclusive, transformative climate action can become a reality.

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