Living in the Shadows: Exploring the Link between Colonialism, Climate Change, and Women’s Vulnerability

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth climate change report in early 2022. For the first time in thirty years, this report acknowledged colonial domination and global exploitation as drivers of the climate issue and contributors to the vulnerability of communities and groups. Colonialism, climate change, and women’s vulnerability are rarely discussed in the available literature. A scoping review was done to determine how colonialism makes women more vulnerable to climate change and related disasters. The study examined when and how colonialism increases women’s vulnerability in the Global North and South. Through the study, it was found that colonialism’s effects vary by situation. Women are often more vulnerable as a result of racism and societal norms inherited from the colonial era. With the aid of this research summary, future studies will be able to lessen women’s long-term vulnerability to disasters caused by climate change. Further, this study emphasizes the need to understand each area’s social dynamics, which can make it hard for some communities to adapt to climate change. A postcolonial lens may help to comprehend these relationships and address individual susceptibility. A fairer and more climate-resilient society can be built by acknowledging colonialism’s legacy and its impact on present-day vulnerabilities.