In the 21st century, climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing global challenges, with implications for ecosystems, economies, and human health. In India, a country known for its social diversity, geographical extremes, and economic disparities, climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities—particularly women. However, women are not just passive victims; they are also active agents of change. Across rural areas, tribal areas, urban slums, and academic institutions, Indian women are pioneering sustainable practices, thus, leading grassroots movements for climate resilience by preserving traditional ecological change.
Understanding the Gendered Impact of Climate Change in India
Climate change does not affect everyone equally. In India, women—particularly those in rural and agrarian communities—are sometimes the first to bear the impact at large scale. With most of the rural women working in agriculture, the effects of climate change such as irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, soil degradation, and diminishing water tables have a direct impact on their livelihoods and food security. Furthermore, cultural norms and gender roles often limit women’s access to resources, education, and decision-making positions. Women in drought or flood-prone areas like Maharashtra or Assam must walk longer distances for water, struggle to obtain fuel and food, and face rising unpaid labour obligations such as care work and household work. Women and children are more vulnerable to displacement, disease, and abuse during climatic disasters. Women as Environmental Stewards and Knowledge Keepers Despite these limitations, women have traditionally been involved in preserving ecological knowledge in India. Over the past, women have pioneered sustainable techniques such as water gathering and seed conservation. Their roles in managing household consumption, agriculture, and natural resources put people at the centre of environmental decision-making, regardless of whether formal systems acknowledge their contributions. Movements such as the Chipko Movement in the 1970s, in which rural women in Uttarakhand hugged trees to avoid deforestation, reflect the close relationship between women and environmental preservation. The movement not only affected Indian forest policy, but also contributed to global environmental activism, demonstrating that grassroots level resistance can result in national change.
Women-Led Grassroots Sustainability Initiatives
Several grassroots women’s groups around India are working to build local level based climate change solutions. In Rajasthan, women-led self-help groups (SHGs) are reviving traditional rainwater collection methods including johads and taankas. Coastal women’s cooperatives in Tamil Nadu are replanting mangroves to help reduce the frequency of storms and conserve marine biodiversity. Women in Odisha’s tribal districts have taken up the charge of community level forest management, combining the demand for firewood with forest conservation. These activities have not only restored degraded lands, but also improved women’s economic independence and social position. Women farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka are also moving towards climate-resilient agriculture, which includes drought-tolerant crops, organic farming, and agroforestry.
Women in Climate Science, Activism, and Policy
Beyond the grassroots, Indian women are increasingly making an impact in climate science, advocacy, and policy. Sunita Narain, the director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), is a long-time campaigner for sustainable development and environmental justice. Her efforts to expose the injustice of global climate negotiations have had a huge impact on how India approaches international climate forums.
Young climate activists like Licypriya Kangujam, dubbed the “Greta Thunberg of India,” are rallying young people to demand tougher environmental action. Women scientists and researchers at India’s best institutions, like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), are spearheading studies on climate modelling, renewable energy, and sustainable urban development. In terms of policy, Indira Gandhi, India’s first and only female Prime Minister, played an important role in organising the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. More recently, female officials and diplomats have represented India at UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) meetings and led projects under India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
Education, Technology, and Empowerment
Education and access to clean technology are effective tools for enabling women to contribute to sustainable development. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in India have been empowering women through training on the use of solar cookers, biogas units, and drip irrigation systems, weaning them from fossil fuels and traditional biomass Organizations like Rajasthan’s Barefoot College have educated rural women, even grandmothers, to be solar engineers without formal education. These women are not only lighting up their villages, but also educating others, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and sustainability. Digital inclusion matters a lot too. With connectivity through mobile and apps, women farmers can now receive weather forecasts, market prices, and agricultural tips, enabling them to make climate-resilient, better-informed decisions.
Challenges and Barriers
Despite these successes, several barriers remain. Patriarchal norms often exclude women from land ownership, limiting their ability to make agricultural or economic decisions. Gender gaps in education and access to finance persist, particularly in marginalized communities. Climate adaptation policies and disaster relief programs frequently overlook women’s specific needs or underrepresent them in decision-making roles. Even progressive environmental schemes like the Jal Shakti Abhiyan or Smart Cities Mission rarely integrate a gender lens in design or implementation.
The Way Forward: A Gender- Just Climate Strategy
Despite these constraints, women have consistently contributed to conserving ecological know-how in India. Women spearheaded sustainable systems such as seed banking and collection of water over the past centuries. Their oversight of domestic use, agriculture, and natural resource management puts the individual at the heart of environmental choice, formally acknowledged or not.
Conclusion
Climate change is more than just an environmental issue; it also affects human rights, gender equality, and development. In India, women are not only among the most afflicted, but also among the most active in seeking solutions. Their leadership in sustainability is based on personal experience, traditional wisdom, and advancing scientific knowledge. Recognising and magnifying women’s responsibilities will be critical as India works to meet its climate obligations, which range from renewable energy expansion to climate-smart agriculture. Empowering women is more than simply about parity; it’s about creating a resilient and sustainable future for everyone.
