Climate change: Climate change is having a disproportionate impact on women, but the funding being directed to support them remains far below what is needed, according to Vaishali Nigam Sinha, president of the United Nations Global Compact Network India.
Speaking about the issue, Sinha said women are far more vulnerable during climate-related disasters and need stronger protection and support through focused investment. She said the amount of capital currently reaching women affected by climate change is only a small share of what is required, estimating it at around 10 per cent.
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She pointed to growing concern over the long-term economic impact as well. A 2025 UN Women report warned that under a worst-case climate scenario, climate change could push as many as 158.3 million additional women and girls into extreme poverty by 2050.
Sinha also drew attention to the condition of women in rural India, especially those involved in farming and similar forms of labour. She said many of them remain unpaid or unrecognised despite being directly exposed to extreme heat in states such as Rajasthan and Gujarat. The consequences, she noted, go beyond physical strain, affecting mental health, incomes, and overall quality of life.
She also highlighted the practical barriers women face in sectors such as renewable energy. For women to work safely at remote project sites, she said, basic infrastructure such as hospitals and proper sanitation facilities is essential. While such amenities may be taken for granted in cities like Delhi, she said they are often missing in more remote parts of the country.
On the wider gap between public commitments and actual results in areas like sustainability and gender inclusion, Sinha said intent must be backed by structure and accountability. She stressed the need for a systematic approach, clear programme design, measurable goals, and timely implementation, warning that delays are becoming more costly.
She said the world is already in 2026 and moving quickly toward the 2030 deadline tied to many of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, which focuses on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Asked about artificial intelligence and whether it could deepen gender inequality, Sinha said the concern is valid to some extent, but added that AI can also become a powerful tool for inclusion if used carefully. In India, where poverty and illiteracy continue to affect access to opportunity, she said AI could help expand education for girls and open doors to new areas of work and learning. At the same time, she said safeguards are necessary to prevent harmful consequences.
Her remarks came as the UN Global Compact Network India brought together more than 200 participants from government, the United Nations, industry, academia, and civil society at its ninth Gender Equality Summit. The discussions focused on the role of the private sector in advancing gender equality and increasing women’s participation in leadership and entrepreneurship.