What is Ecological Justice?

Ecological justice means analyzing environmental issues from a human rights and social justice perspective. It ensures that all individuals and communities have the right to live in a clean and safe environment, and that no one group disproportionately bears the burden of environmental damage. Although Article 30 of Nepal’s Constitution (2015) recognizes the right to a clean environment as a fundamental right, in practice, the effects of climate change fall unequally on communities that have historically been marginalized based on caste, gender, class, and economic status.

With 66% of Nepal’s population dependent on agriculture and one-third of the national GDP stemming from it, this reveals a deep interconnection between agriculture, environment, and livelihood. Despite agriculture being a stated government priority at all levels (local, provincial, and federal), effective planning and implementation have been lacking—exposing the gap between policy rhetoric and practical action.

Structural discrimination, unequal power dynamics, and marginalization result in women and marginalized communities facing disproportionate impacts of climate change. Incidents of rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, floods, landslides, droughts, and wildfires are increasing.

Sub-Themes Under “Ecological Justice and Women’s Leadership”

1. Women’s Leadership in Ecological Justice

To ensure ecological justice, women’s leadership is inevitable, especially in communities where the environmental crisis is most severe. Since its establishment, WOREC has worked to protect the rights of women linked to climate change, while promoting sustainable, women-led solutions. In 2023, WOREC adopted “Ecological Justice and Women’s Leadership” as a strategic priority, implementing programs that encourage women’s leadership in climate justice, agriculture, livelihoods, and disaster management.

Nepal is an agriculture-based country where women have long been at the forefront of farming and environmental protection. However, their labor remains undervalued, and they lack formal recognition, limiting their access to decision-making and resources. As the use of chemical pesticides, forest fires, and resource exploitation intensifies climate change, solutions based on women’s knowledge and experience are more powerful and effective.

Thus, it is essential both policy-wise and practically to grant women formal recognition as real farmers. Policies must promote organic farming, integrated pest management, and crop rotation, led by women. These efforts can transform agricultural systems into tools for climate mitigation and bring ecological justice to life. Empowering women’s leadership and adopting inclusive policies are the only ways to ensure a sustainable and just environmental transformation.

2. Climate Justice, Sustainable Livelihood, Person on the Move

Climate change is drastically affecting livelihoods, redefining human settlement, agricultural systems, and mobility patterns. It has created a new category of people: “Persons on the Move.” These are individuals forced to migrate due to climate change, conflict, or disasters. In Nepal’s mountainous and hilly regions, communities are being compelled to leave their ancestral homes due to heavy snowfall, landslides, droughts, and floods.

According to the United Nations, by 2050, 200 million people globally could become climate migrants. In Nepal, many Himalayan villages are at high risk of glacial lake outbursts, floods, and landslides, forcing local populations to relocate to lower regions. This displacement brings new challenges, both within the country and internationally. Internal migration from rural to urban areas is straining city infrastructure, while international migration to India, the Gulf, and Malaysia is increasing.

Migration is not always safe. Women and adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and trafficking during migration. Economic insecurity caused by climate change pushes many women into labor migration, where they face exploitation, sexual violence, and trafficking risks. When men migrate, women are left with increased responsibilities—from household duties to farming and childcare. These issues are all interconnected. Environmental instability caused by climate change destroys local livelihood sources, resulting in forced migration and heightened risk for women and children, deepening social inequality and injustice.

In Nepal, glacial lake outbursts, floods, landslides, barren lands, and water scarcity in the hills have led to food insecurity and increased migration. In the Terai, heavy rains, floods, riverbank erosion, and rising temperatures have reduced agricultural productivity.

 The Way Forward

To address these complex challenges, an integrated approach is necessary, one that combines ecological justice, climate justice, gender equality, and migrant rights as a unified agenda.

• Communities need support to adapt to climate change, build alternative livelihoods, and ensure safe migration.
• Women’s leadership should be central to these efforts.
• Local knowledge and traditional practices must be integrated with modern technology to implement programs for climate adaptation, sustainable agriculture, and empowerment.

Recognizing the interrelationship between environment, women, and development is the foundation of sustainable development. This must remain at the center of all policy advocacy and programming.