The Dominican Republic's vulnerability to climate change is described as alarming.

SANTO DOMINGO. - The Dominican Republic's vulnerability to climate change is alarming, said Dalul Ordehi, dean of the Social Sciences and Humanities Area of ​​the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), in delivering the opening speech of the XIII Dominican Conference on Gender Studies, under the theme "The Global South: perspectives, contributions and the building of knowledge on forced displacement due to climate change."

Ordehi specified that the island is located in the “Caribbean Corridor”, one of the regions most exposed each year to hurricanes of increasing intensity, extreme rainfall and climate change events that threaten infrastructure, crops, homes and mainly human life.

“Areas such as the southwest of the country, the northwest line, and various coastal communities already show signs of environmental degradation, soil erosion, and entire displacements. The impact is not only environmental; it is primarily social, economic, and gender-related. The poorest communities lack effective safety nets,” the dean stated at the event organized by the Center for Gender Studies (CEG) at that university.

She also stated that women often lead the way in rebuilding families after disasters, taking on caregiving roles without institutional support. “This reinforces existing inequalities and limits their participation in decision-making. It is impossible to talk about climate justice without talking about gender,” she emphasized.

The psychologist indicated that women are not only victims of climate change, but also strategic agents of change for mitigation and resilience. “From sustainable agriculture to community water management, and including environmental movements, their leading role is undeniable.”

Ordehi said that it is urgent to move towards the formulation and implementation of comprehensive policies that include territorial planning with a focus on risk and equity, legal protection for people displaced by climate change, the inclusion of women and local communities in decision-making processes, and, most importantly, educational and technical training programs that promote sustainability. She maintained that it is not enough to react to emergencies; it is essential to prevent, anticipate, and act from a perspective of social justice. 

The 13th Dominican Conference on Studies is an academic gathering held every two years. Its main objective was to strengthen the development of knowledge and public policies that integrate a gender perspective into the understanding of forced displacement caused by the effects of climate change, especially in countries of the Global South, where historical and institutional inequalities exacerbate the vulnerability of affected communities.

Desiree del Rosario, coordinator of the Center for Gender Studies, noted that this edition seeks to promote interdisciplinary and regional dialogue, involving researchers, activists, artists and decision-makers in generating solutions based on climate and gender justice.

Through keynote lectures, working groups and expert forums, efforts will be made to highlight the differentiated impacts that climate change has on women, girls and rural communities, as well as to promote concrete actions that contribute to reducing inequalities.

The conference is also part of the Chair on Forced Displacement due to Climate Change, an initiative that aims to influence public policies and development agencies to recognize the dignity and rights of people affected by the climate crisis.

Prior to the event, the CEG developed Expert Forums on Displacement due to Climate Change, with the purpose of placing on the public agenda the main elements of a comprehensive policy that addresses risks and vulnerabilities from a human, sustainable and gender equity approach.

Girls and women, the most affected

The event began with the keynote address “Women of the Global South and Climate Change: Training and Professional Trajectories Linked to EMMIR,” delivered by Lydia Potts, who teaches Migration Studies and Gender Studies at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany. She leads the working group “Migration – Gender – Politics” and coordinates the Erasmus Mundus Master's program “European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations” (EMMIR).

Potts indicated that in 2020, 40,5 million people were forced to relocate, and 30,7 million of them were directly affected by natural hazards. She noted that, according to scientific predictions, continued global climate change will trigger adverse events affecting approximately 143 million people in the Global South by 2050, leading to various forms of migration and mobility. This is estimated to include at least 86 million in Sub-Saharan Africa, 40 million in South Asia and the Pacific, and 17 million in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Women and girls face disproportionate impacts from climate change, as they make up the majority of the world’s poor, who depend heavily on local natural resources for their livelihoods.  According to data from the United Nations, when climate disasters occur, women are 14 times more likely to die than men, due to limited access to information, mobility, decision-making power, and resources,” Potts said. In fact, she indicated that it is estimated that four out of every five people displaced by the impacts of climate change are women and girls.