Senator Sherry Rehman told the 4th Gender Climate Awards in Islamabad that women act as the “last-mile managers of resilience” and play a decisive role in helping communities cope with accelerating climate impacts. The event, hosted by the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change together with the Embassy of France, UN Women and UNDP, highlighted the link between gender and climate adaptation across Pakistan.
Rehman stressed that women are often the primary caregivers, resource managers and first responders during climate emergencies, even as social and economic constraints limit their options. She emphasised that strengthening women resilience is essential for community-level preparedness and recovery, especially in rural and flood-affected districts.
Pointing to the gendered consequences of a warming planet, she noted that women and girls make up the majority of climate-displaced populations globally and shoulder a disproportionate burden from water scarcity, food insecurity and falling agricultural yields. The senator recalled the catastrophic 2022 floods, which affected more than 650,000 pregnant women and severely disrupted access to healthcare and sanitation across Pakistan.
Describing climate change as a polycrisis that threatens water, food, health and livelihoods simultaneously, Rehman argued that women are not merely victims but key agents of adaptation and change. She urged policymakers and development partners to prioritise programmes that enhance economic security and land rights for women as part of broader climate resilience strategies.
As examples of practical measures, the senator highlighted women-focused land ownership initiatives and social protection schemes such as the Benazir Income Support Programme, saying such interventions boost household resilience and enable communities to better withstand extreme weather. She warned that intensifying heatwaves, worsening water shortages and shifting weather patterns will require greater investment in women-led climate action across Pakistan.
Rehman concluded by recognising the grassroots leaders honoured at the awards, saying, “The women we honour today are already building the resilience that communities need. They are not only responding to climate change—they are leading the way toward a more resilient future.” Her remarks called for sustained funding and institutional support to scale up women resilience as a core pillar of Pakistan’s climate response.
