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Abstract

South Asia is acutely vulnerable to climate change due to its heavy dependence on agriculture, forestry, and ocean resources. Women in this region are disproportionately affected by climate change due to systemic inequities. Despite these vulnerabilities, women possess critical ecological knowledge and leadership potential that can transform climate resilience efforts. However, their participation in climate governance remains significantly constrained by entrenched digital exclusion, tokenistic political representation, inequitable land ownership policies, and the invisibility of women’s unpaid labour in climate adaptation. This study highlights current constraints on women’s participation and the future potential of women leaders to shape inclusive and effective climate policies in South Asia. We examined the intersection of gender and climate governance across four South Asian countries—India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—using a mixed-methods approach comprising legal doctrinal analysis, quantitative evaluation, and secondary data review. A comparative approach reveals that Nepal’s progress with gender quotas contrasts with stagnation in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, underscoring regional disparities. The key findings reveal that integrating women’s leadership into climate governance enhances climate strategies of inclusivity, equity, and effectiveness. Women’s lived experiences and community-centred approaches foster innovative solutions to environmental and socio-economic challenges. To replicate successes uncovered in our findings, this study emphasises the need for structural reforms such as mandatory gender quotas, gender-sensitive budgeting, capacity-building programs, and equitable access to resources. By integrating feminist theories such as ecofeminism and feminist political ecology, this study provides a replicable model for embedding gender equity into global climate action frameworks.

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