Issue Brief: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Understanding the intersections between climate justice and Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR)

Climate change has a serious impact on SRHR. The climate crisis is worsening maternal health outcomes, jeopardising progress on sexual rights and exacerbating inequalities. The realisation of SRHR is crucial for strengthening resilience and improving the adaptive capacity of marginalised people and communities who are already experiencing the disproportionate impacts of climate change.

The climate crisis is underpinned by grave injustices, with those who contributed the least to the climate crisis suffering first and worst from its consequences, and with limited access to the resources needed to adapt. This includes the ability to maintain good health and safeguard human rights. Within countries and communities, risks from climate change are greater for “[p]eople who are socially, economically, culturally, politically, institutionally or otherwise marginalized”.