Indonesian Climate Justice Review
Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): July, 2026

The Climate Crisis Is Not Gender-Neutral: Why Do Women Bear a Heavier Ecological Burden?

Pieter Wattimena (Universitas Pattimura)
Martha Manuhutu (Universitas Pattimura)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jul 2026

Abstract

Climate change and environmental degradation affect communities unevenly, and gender is a critical dimension of this unequal vulnerability. Women, particularly Indigenous women and women in coastal communities, frequently carry disproportionate responsibilities for food provision, water collection, household care, and livelihood adaptation while having limited influence over environmental decision-making. This article examines the gendered dimensions of ecological burdens in Indonesia by connecting experiences of coastal communities, Indigenous peoples, displacement, and extractive development. Cases such as Kawasi and the Balik community provide important entry points for understanding how environmental transformation affects women’s livelihoods, social reproduction, cultural practices, and political participation. The article employs feminist political ecology to analyze the relationship between environmental change and gendered power structures. It argues that relocation, pollution, resource scarcity, and ecosystem degradation do not simply affect households collectively; they can intensify women’s unpaid labor and reduce their economic and political autonomy. At the same time, women’s knowledge and experiences are frequently marginalized in formal environmental governance. A gender-just approach to climate policy therefore requires more than identifying women as vulnerable groups. It must recognize women as political actors and rights holders whose knowledge is essential to environmental decision-making. The article concludes that climate justice requires gender-responsive governance, protection of livelihoods, meaningful participation, and recognition of the unequal distribution of ecological labor and risk.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

climate

Publisher

Subject

Description

Indonesian Climate Justice Review (e-ISSN: 3164-2284) is published by COLLEGIUM JUSTICIA INDONESIA, first published in 2024, and issued quarterly in January, April, July, and October in online format (electronic journal). It is a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal dedicated to advancing ...