This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Cecilia Petio, a medical student at the University of Bologna, Italy. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

Climate Change and Women’s Health: A Call to Action for the Next Generation of Healthcare ProfessionalsClimate change is often discussed in terms of temperatures, storms, or economic loss. Yet its most profound consequence is often overlooked: its impact on women’s health. As future healthcare professionals, we must recognize this urgent issue—not only as doctors but as advocates for equity and resilience.

Women, particularly in vulnerable communities, face disproportionate health risks from climate change due to biological, social, and structural factors. One of the clearest intersections lies in maternal and reproductive health. Exposure to extreme heat, air pollution, and climate-related disasters has been linked to preterm birth, low birth weight, hypertensive disorders, and stillbirth (WHO, 2023). Heat stress during pregnancy increases physiological strain, while air pollution contributes to complications for both mother and fetus.

Climate change also disrupts healthcare access. Floods, droughts, and storms can damage clinics, prevent transportation, and interrupt essential reproductive services. For women in low-resource settings, these disruptions can mean life-threatening delays in care.

Beyond physical health, climate change affects mental wellbeing. Disasters, displacement, and environmental uncertainty heighten rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma-related stress, particularly among women burdened with caregiving responsibilities. Globally, over 80% of people displaced by climate crises are women and girls (World Economic Forum, 2024), compounding vulnerability to violence, poverty, and interrupted healthcare.

These disparities are not only biological—they are structural. Women frequently have less access to financial resources, education, and decision-making power. Climate change amplifies these inequalities. Scarcity of water and food often increases women’s workload, reduces opportunities for education, and exposes them to additional health risks.

Addressing these challenges requires a gender-sensitive health response. Medical education must integrate climate and planetary health so future clinicians understand how environmental change drives disease patterns. Healthcare systems must be resilient, ensuring maternal and reproductive services remain accessible during crises. Finally, healthcare professionals must advocate for climate policies that protect both the environment and health equity.

Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is a public health and gender equity issue. For future doctors, silence is not an option. Protecting women’s health in a warming world is not only science—it is an ethical imperative.

References

1. World Health Organization. Protecting maternal, newborn and child health from the impacts of climate change. 2023.
   
2. Melina Denise Zavala, Cejas C, Rubinstein A, Lopez A. Gender Inequities in the Impact of Climate Change on Health: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [Internet]. 2024 Aug 19;21(8):1093–3. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/8/1093
3. Anjum G, Aziz M. Climate change and gendered vulnerability: A systematic review of women’s health. Women’s Health [Internet]. 2025 Jan;21. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11905046/
4. World Economic Forum. Climate change impacts women more. 2024.

About the author

The author is a medical student at the University of Bologna, Italy, and an active member of SISM Italy (Segretariato Italiano Studenti in Medicina), the Italian National Member Organization of IFMSA. With a strong interest in global health, health equity, climate change, planetary health, and youth participation in policymaking, she engages in student-led advocacy and international health initiatives. Through her involvement in IFMSA, she explores how environmental change affects vulnerable populations, particularly women, and advocate for climate-literate, resilient healthcare systems.