Climate Change and the Future of Women’s Work

It is widely known that the accelerating pace of climate change poses a significant threat to India’s economic stability and labor productivity. Although women constitute a significant portion of the agricultural and informal workforce, they face unique structural barriers that limit their ability to adapt to these environmental disruptions.

Climate-resilient skilling and resource access are important levers for protecting women’s livelihoods and meeting the targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of climate action and decent work. However, skilling without the legal and financial means to manage resources cannot enhance economic security for women. Direct access to land titles and technical training in emerging sectors, therefore, offers the right mix of resource security with a pathway to long-term resilience.

In the context of the future of work, a transition to a low-carbon economy—specifically one that is inclusive—can improve the employability of women by reskilling and upskilling for roles in renewable energy and sustainable waste management. It can also assist governments in ensuring that the labor market remains resilient to environmental shocks. From a gender perspective, these interventions are even more important, given that they not only provide technical skills but also offer a means for women to gain the financial agency and social protection needed for permanent economic stability.

Government initiatives and climate action plans aim to enhance sustainability and employment prospects. However, a marked imbalance persists in these programs; for instance, while India’s renewable energy sector is growing rapidly, women represent only 11% of the solar rooftop workforce. This underscores the need for reforms to establish inclusive climate adaptation programs in India.

To address these gaps, this brief proposes several recommendations:

• Firstly, collecting sex-disaggregated data within State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) can provide insights into how environmental shifts specifically impact different sectors of the female workforce.
• Secondly, reforming land ownership and recognition norms can ensure women farmers have the formal status required to access institutional credit and climate-smart technologies.
• Thirdly, targeted technical training for women in the renewable energy sector can bridge the “green skills gap” and prevent exclusion from high-growth industries.
• Fourthly, creating heat-resilient urban infrastructure, such as shaded transit and ventilated workspaces, will protect the productivity and health of women in the informal economy.
• Finally, prioritizing adaptation finance for women-led collectives and MSMEs can improve access to the resources needed to withstand and recover from climate-induced losses.

Implementing these recommendations promises a more inclusive economic system, fostering climate resilience and continued prosperity for women.