Canadian Women's Foundation Annual Report 2023-2024 - Report - Page 45
Our Voice in the Headlines:
The Impact of the Climate Crisis on Women
Gender Must Not be an Afterthought in
Emergency Preparedness
Do Our City’s Emergency Plans Really Protect
Women?
Key Facts About Climate and
Gender in Canada
Canada is warming at more than double the
global rate, and Canada’s Arctic is warming at
about three times the global rate. This puts
Northern and Indigenous communities at
particular risk of climate change impacts.
Fires, floods, and heat waves can result in:
• Spikes in rates of gender-based violence
also burned. With these events, there has been
an increase in numbers in relation to substance
abuse and addictions, mental health concerns,
poverty, and homelessness.”
• Job and income disruptions and losses
• Food and housing insecurity
• Transportation interruptions and barriers
• Evacuation and displacement
Wildfires in Port Alberni, British Columbia
interrupted highway access from June to
September 2023. This delayed the construction
of much-needed housing units for women and
children transitioning from situations of abuse
at Sage Haven Society, says Executive Director
Ellen Frood. “The highway closure also added
to the ability of abusers to keep partners
isolated. People do sometimes need to leave the
community for safety or health reasons, and it was
scary to suddenly lose that access.”
• Physical and mental health issues
• Reduced access to medical, community, and
social services
Women and gender-diverse people facing multiple
forms of marginalization and inequality will
experience climate change impacts more intensely
and face more barriers to recovery.
> Learn more: The Facts about Gender and Climate
Change
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