By 2025, climate-related hazards could prevent up to 12.5 million girls each year from finishing school, the study says
Amid negative outcomes and growing dangers involving the negative impacts of climate change, a latest report suggests that the global problem change has a severe impact on girls and young women, amplifying existing inequalities and threatening their education, health, and livelihoods.
The findings were highlighted in the report titled “Girls Leadership Index-2024” (GLI), which was revealed in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, on Wednesday.
Launched by Plan International, the report focuses on the climate action status of girls in Asia-Pacific region including Bangladesh, Nepal and other South Asian countries.
By 2025, climate-related hazards could prevent up to 12.5 million girls each year from finishing school, such as age, gender, and intersecting identities worsen the effects, making girls and young women more vulnerable to climate disasters while also positioning them as key voices in climate advocacy, it adds.
Despite of the challenge, some countries have improved their status in Asia, such as Bhutan which made significant progress. However, nations including Thailand, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam are falling behind.
Experts stress the need for gender-inclusive climate policies and empowering girls to ensure sustainable development and climate justice. Empowering girls with leadership opportunities and resources is seen as essential for building resilience and driving meaningful change
The report has indicated education, economic opportunities, and protection. As global leaders meet to tackle climate change, one fact remains clear—while the planet’s future hangs in the balance, the futures of millions of young girls are already at risk.
It stresses on the urgent need for focusing on gender equality in leadership, particularly as climate change exacerbates existing inequalities. The data paints a compelling picture: for girls to thrive, they must be empowered to lead and influence the decisions that affect their lives.
Disproportionate impact on girls
One of the most alarming findings of the GLI is the disproportionate impact climate change has on young girls, especially in lower-income countries. In regions most vulnerable to environmental disasters—like Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands—girls are not only impacted by rising temperatures and natural disasters but are also less likely to be included in decision-making processes regarding climate action.
The report notes that climate action is one of the seven key domains for assessing girls’ leadership. While Bhutan and Singapore have made significant strides in gender-sensitive climate policies, the overall picture for girls across Asia-Pacific is concerning.
Climate-related disasters, including floods, droughts, and typhoons, are more frequent than ever, displacing communities and disrupting lives. These disasters don’t just affect girls’ physical safety; they hinder their access to education and increase the risks of early marriage, child labor, and gender-based violence.
“For many girls, climate change is not just an environmental issue—it’s a crisis of survival,” says Bhagyashri Dengle, Regional Director of Plan International Asia-Pacific.
“We are seeing a rise in the number of girls dropping out of school to help their families after disasters, and in the worst cases, girls are being married off young because of economic pressures brought on by climate impacts.”
Countries like Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Solomon Islands face the dual threat of climate change and entrenched gender inequality. These regions are home to some of the lowest-ranking countries on the GLI, where girls’ leadership opportunities are limited by poor access to education, health services, and economic opportunities. In these places, girls often grow up without the skills or resources needed to participate in climate resilience or governance.
Education for empowerment getting tougher
According to the report, education remains one of the most significant challenges for girls in the region, showing a stark divide between the best and worst-performing countries in terms of educational access and quality.
While countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam demonstrate robust education systems that support female participation, countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh face massive challenges.
The report finds that girls’ education is directly tied to their ability to lead and break the cycles of poverty and inequality. In Singapore, where educational outcomes for girls are among the best globally, girls have higher chances of becoming leaders in various fields.
However, in countries with weaker education systems, girls are often the first to drop out of school when faced with economic pressures, such as those created by climate-induced disasters or conflict.
“Education is not just a tool for personal development—it’s a powerful tool for leadership. However, if girls cannot access quality education, they are denied the ability to participate in key decision-making processes,” says Kusalin Wongnamkob, Regional Gender and Inclusion Adviser at Plan International.
While the Asia-Pacific region has made significant progress in female enrollment in primary education, challenges remain in secondary and tertiary education.
The report highlights that Vietnam has seen improvements in secondary school completion rates for girls, while Bangladesh struggles with high dropout rates. For girls in rural and marginalised communities, school closures due to natural disasters or the lack of adequate infrastructure only deepen these disparities.
Economic inequality another major issue
When it comes to economic opportunities, the GLI reveals that gender inequality in labor force participation remains a major issue. While countries like Australia and New Zealand offer high levels of economic participation for women, in many parts of Asia, girls are expected to take on domestic roles, leaving little room for personal or professional growth.
The GLI underscores that economic independence is critical for empowering girls and young women. Countries like Thailand and Vietnam are leading by example, where women and girls are increasingly represented in managerial positions. Yet, in other regions, economic opportunities for girls remain stifled. In countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, female labor force participation remains exceedingly low, further limiting their capacity to influence both the economy and the environment.
“For girls to take on leadership roles in climate action, education, and beyond, they need financial independence and access to economic opportunities,” says Sharon Kane, director of sub-regions at Plan International.
“Until we address these economic disparities, many girls will continue to be locked out of the leadership roles they deserve.”
Debacles over health and protection
Girls’ health and protection are deeply intertwined with their ability to lead. The 2024 GLI shows that while there have been improvements in maternal health and child nutrition in some countries, girls in the poorest regions face serious health challenges due to climate change.
The report highlights the rise in mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD among girls following climate disasters. These psychological effects, compounded by the physical toll of malnutrition, reduce girls’ ability to fully participate in leadership roles.
Moreover, early child marriage and gender-based violence are directly tied to climate stress, particularly in rural areas where girls are seen as economic assets.
The report shows that while there has been some progress in the legal frameworks around child marriage and violence against women, countries like India, Bangladesh, and Nepal still face high rates of early marriage, particularly in rural areas where families are pushed into economic hardship by climate events.
What needs to be done?
The report urges governments, civil society organisations, and private sectors to prioritise girls in climate action, education, and economic empowerment. The report calls for gender-responsive climate policies.
National and local governments, it says, need to integrate girls’ needs and perspectives into climate resilience planning. For improved access to education, according to the study, the governments must ensure that girls’ education remains uninterrupted, even during climate crises.
And when it comes to economic independence, the GLI finds initiatives that promote financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and women’s economic participation to be critical.
Laws protecting girls from child marriage and gender-based violence must be enforced, and new policies must be developed to address the unique challenges posed by climate change, it suggests.
A generation of leaders
As the world moves forward into an increasingly uncertain climate future, empowering girls is no longer just an option—it is a necessity. The study makes it clear: empowering girls in the face of climate change is critical to building resilient, sustainable communities.
Girls have the potential to lead the fight for climate justice, but only if they are given the tools, resources, and opportunities to do so.
