Climate change and menstrual health

The next step is understanding how menstrual health is linked to climate change. We're looking at climate change from a public health perspective and how adaptation to climate change cannot be accomplished without incorporating menstrual health into the conversation. 

Offering comprehensive menstrual health education and access to appropriate products are essential to empowering women to live their fullest and healthiest lives. We want to extend that line of thinking to say that empowering women is critical to climate action because empowered women create climate-resilient communities. 

Talking points

#1: Climate change impacts women more than men.

• Increased vulnerability of women to climate-related hazards is linked to intersecting social factors such as gender inequality and socio-economic status.

• During and in the aftermath of a humanitarian crisis (like extreme weather events), women and girls face reduced access to menstrual health products and water and sanitation facilities, which increases their vulnerability to all types of gender-based violence. 

• In crisis situations, menstrual health needs are often overlooked, underscoring the need to integrate these concerns into climate and disaster response plans

#2: Empowering women is the key to building climate resilience in communities. 

• The United Nations highlights that including women in decision-making at all levels enhances both mitigation and adaptation policies.

• Collaboration between grassroots organizations, local governments, and women’s groups can improve access to natural resources and land use management.

• Gender equity is crucial for effective climate crisis solutions, including adaptation and mitigation strategies. Women's unique approaches to climate actions are key to this effort. 

#3: Investing in menstrual health is essential to empowering women, and therefore essential to building climate resilience.

• Menstrual health is vital at all stages of life, not just during adolescence. It empowers girls and women, from understanding their first menstrual cycle to navigating changes in adulthood, including family planning, and menopause.

• Mainstreaming and destigmatizing menstrual health are crucial to enhancing women's health, educational opportunities, workplace participation, and involvement in public life.

Storytelling as a tool

Storytelling can be a powerful tool to illustrate how menstrual health is an important component of empowering community leaders of the future. In this example, we share the vision of how Be Girl's programs and products could lead to climate resilience.