Locationsby Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan
Women carrying cane baskets on their backs in Hushe Valley, Skardu.
Photo: Shahzad Ahmad/UNDP Pakistan
Moments of clarity come in unexpected places. I recall one such moment in Vietnam.
As I travelled along Highway No. 1 connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, the paddy rice fields stretched endlessly, glowing under the meek sunlight. Women in non la hats stood in the water, harvesting rice after seasons of labor. I watched them work, their feet submerged, deeply connected to the land.
Years later, in Gilgit Baltistan, I saw a similar scene. Zeenat, a 26-year-old woman, carefully navigated a rocky hill with a cane basket of wheat strapped to her back. She seemed as much a part of the land as the crops she harvested. It was a moment of realization: the vulnerable communities of the world, particularly women and girls, bear the brunt of climate change.
Nature Is Not Discriminating Women. The World Is.
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) are climate-induced disasters of immense force. They send waves of melted ice and debris rushing down valleys, destroying everything in their path.
Rising global temperatures have led to the formation of nearly 3,000 glacial lakes in northern Pakistan, with 33 identified as extremely dangerous. The glaciers that feed the Indus River are melting fast. Over 10,000 glaciers have receded, increasing the risk of floods and threatening livelihoods. In 2022 alone, Pakistan witnessed 75 GLOF events, which took 66 lives and caused economic losses of USD 15.2 billion. Yet, the human cost - especially for marginalized communities - often goes unnoticed.
For instance, the 2019 Shishper GLOF in Hunza Valley, Pakistan, displaced over 350 households. Women and children bore the brunt of the disaster. The destruction of farmland disrupted women’s agricultural roles, while 80% of children, particularly girls, faced educational setbacks. In temporary shelters, 60% of women reported inadequate sanitation, affecting their health and dignity. Without private spaces for bathing and hygiene, many suffered stress and were vulnerable to harassment or exploitation.
Barah Valley: A woman and her child on their way home after collecting fodder for their livestock.
Photo: Shameen Raza/UNDP Pakistan
Women’s exclusion from disaster management worsens their plight. With less than 10% representation in decision-making, they often lack access to early warning systems and disaster planning. Recovery efforts rarely address their unique deepening inequities.
These figures highlight the urgent need for disaster and climate strategies that address the specific challenges faced by women and vulnerable groups. Ensuring accessible early warning systems, inclusive planning, and tailored recovery efforts is not just about reducing women’s risks - it strengthens entire communities against climate-induced disasters like GLOFs.
Climate Justice at COP29
Achieving Climate Justice requires ambition and action. At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, world leaders reaffirmed the need for equitable climate action. The Enhanced Lima Work Programme was extended for another ten years, emphasizing women’s inclusion in national climate policies.
By February 2025, parties will present new Nationally Determined Contributions to accelerate climate finance. A goal of USD 300 billion per year has also been set to support the most affected countries.
There is also a push to simplify access to climate finance for grassroots women’s organizations and invest in capacity-building for women facing climate disasters.
Enabling Climate Action for Women
Beyond global commitments, action is needed in the valleys of Pakistan’s north. Inclusive climate action is essential - without it, climate programs cannot fulfill their true purpose - to protect all people, without discrimination.
Back in Zeenat’s life in Khaplu, she told me how UNDP’s GLOF-II project rehabilitated an irrigation channel, which has ensured that water remains accessible to her fields. This small change means she no longer has to walk long distances to fetch water.
With financial support from the Green Climate Fund and in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, the project has directly benefited 350,000 women and girls in 24 of Pakistan’s most climate-vulnerable valleys. The project has established Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Centers that actively involve women, provided disaster preparedness training tailored specifically for women, and conducted separate mock drills to ensure their participation. It has expanded livelihood programs to create economic opportunities, installed early warning systems in 293 locations to improve disaster preparedness, and rehabilitated vital infrastructure, including irrigation channels that guarantee water access for farming communities. Additionally, it has implemented flood protection measures by constructing 250 check-dams and stabilizing 700 hectares of slopes, reducing the risk of future disasters.
All the women that I see working in the fields, from Vietnam to Pakistan, share a common voice. Their message is clear: climate action must be just, inclusive and responsive to their needs. Without their voices in decision-making, climate policies will fail those who need them most.
After all, just like our planet, we too are all but one.
