El Niño Threatens Women at COP31 Talks
Delegates in Turkey heard that the climate pattern could have a devastating effect on women, particularly in agriculture and unpaid care work.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Women’s Issues
Live Poll
Should governments spend more on protecting farmers from climate shocks like drought?
At COP31 in Turkey, delegates were warned that El Niño, a natural climate pattern worsened by global warming, could have a devastating effect on women. A panel discussed the impact of the super El Niño crisis on agriculture and food producers.
Why it matters
El Niño disrupts rainfall, causing abnormal drought or floods, which strains the agricultural systems that many women depend on for income and food. Water scarcity also increases the time women and girls spend collecting water and limits access to sanitation for menstrual health.
Around 44% of working youth earn their living from food and agriculture, and 395 million rural young people live in areas where climate change is expected to reduce harvests. Women in Africa perform 95% of unpaid care and domestic work, yet farmers receive less than 1% of climate financing.
The players
COP31
The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Turkey, where the El Niño warnings were presented.
The details
Speakers at COP31 described how El Niño's disruption of rainfall is driving severe multi-country drought in southern Africa. A panel also examined how the crisis affects agriculture and food producers, with governments urged to consider social production protection as a form of food security.
Timeline
COP31 delegates in Turkey heard the El Niño warnings on November 9, 2026.
Climate shocks are expected to increase for poorer nations this season.
Season Trajectory
The COP process has increasingly addressed climate finance and adaptation for vulnerable populations. This El Niño discussion extends that agenda by focusing on how women and rural young people bear disproportionate burdens.
Women who depend on farming or who carry unpaid household care may face longer water-collection times and reduced income during drought. Limited access to water and sanitation can also make menstrual health harder to manage.
The takeaway
Climate policy that protects food producers and women's unpaid labor may be essential to food security. Readers following COP31 can watch whether delegates turn these warnings into concrete financing for farmers.
Further reading
Explore more on Women’s Issues to see how climate shocks affect women's livelihoods and daily lives.
Live Poll
Should governments spend more on protecting farmers from climate shocks like drought?
