Caste, Gender, and the Climate Crisis

The institutionalized and systemic marginalization of Dalits and gender oppressed people from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal make our communities more vulnerable during global climate emergencies. As climate collapse impacts the world, Indigenous peoples, Dalits and other historically disenfranchised groups bear the brunt of harmful climate crises at the frontlines. Life threatening climate-induced disasters such as drought, extreme heat, water shortage, hazardous air pollution, flooding, earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis, and cyclones exacerbate already brutal and tenuous conditions for caste and gender oppressed peoples.

During this webinar, we will be discussing the specific intersections of gender, caste, and socio-economics during climate crises and exploring generational Dalit resilience, survival strategies and solutions.

Key questions we will discuss:

• Why should we apply a gender and caste lens to our collective climate actions?

• What are the intersections of gender, caste, socio-economics and the climate emergency?
• In what ways do systemic oppression, marginalization, and caste-based discrimination against Dalit & gender oppressed people further push them to the margins in a climate emergency?

• What are critical and life threatening areas we should be aware of globally?

• What is culture’s role in the climate crisis?

• What are the impacts of multiple displacements our communities have to endure? How do we create stability?

• What are the solutions and wisdom Dalit and caste oppressed communities offer in the face of such climate catastrophes?

About the speaker:

Bhumika Saraswati is an independent journalist, filmmaker, and photographer based in India. Her work explores the intersections of social justice, climate crisis, caste, gender, and human rights. Shaped by her upbringing in a Dalit household and raised by a strong single mother, she has received acclaim, including the UN-Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitive Reporting, the international Human Rights Press Award, and the prestigious RedInk Award for Excellence in Indian Journalism. Her impactful storytelling has been featured in The Associated Press, Seattle Times, The New York Times, Outlook Magazine, The Hindu, SCMP Films and other esteemed publications.
Currently, Bhumika is deeply engaged in two long-term visual projects: 'Heat.southasia', documenting the disproportionate impact of rising temperatures on marginalized communities, particularly Dalit women; and capturing the resilience of women in protest movements across India. She is also the recipient of the IWMF Fund for Women Reporters and the Asia-Pacific Women Law and Development reporting grant, focusing on Adivasi women protesting to protect forests in Chhattisgarh. Additionally, she is working on an investigative series addressing the environmental and social impacts of single-use plastics. Bhumika believes there is no climate justice without social justice.

Note: while this event is free to the general public, we encourage those from caste-privileged backgrounds to donate to our caste equity work.

Event Venue

Online