The effects of the climate crisis and ecological degradation such as rising ocean levels, extreme weather events, unusual shifts in seasons, and depletion of vital resources are felt most by women, Indigenous people, rural communities and the urban poor that inhabit ecologically sensitive areas that are disaster prone, and/or marked by violence, conflict and war. These intersect with other global crises such as growing political instability, geopolitical insecurity and economic crises, which have compounding effects. Additionally, ongoing transition to renewable energy has meant an increase in demand for critical minerals, which in turn is feeding global conflict and inequality (Global Witness 2025). Neoliberal policies and climate change adaptation strategies often neglect the needs of the most oppressed leading those who most depend on land, water, forests and traditional and local practices for their livelihoods to experience the loss of vital resources (Hernando-Arrese & Ibarra 2025), ancestral lands, spiritual beliefs, and cultural practices (Amaya et al. 2025). Further, they experience dispossession, displacement (Matanzima 2024; Jayawardhan 2017), erosion of their food systems (Amaya et al. 2025), financial insecurity, and increase in care responsibilities for women (Bachina et al. 2025) which have serious implications on their physical and mental health (Kammerer et al. 2025).
As countries around the world develop national adaptation plans (NAP), it is critical that those
historically and socially marginalised and excluded have a seat at the table and that mitigation and
adaptation plans draw from the rich knowledge and practices of these groups. Refugees and internally
displaced people are often overlooked in NAPs whilst being one of most vulnerable groups due to
limited access to resources (Ober, Huckstep & Miller 2023). Similarly, LGBTQI+ groups are often missing
from NAPs, their experiences and agency invisibilised (Carthy 2023). While women are included in 85
per cent of NAPs as a vulnerable group, only 16 per cent position them as agents (Dazé & Hunter 2024).
When those at the margins are not included as contributors to NAPs, their rich knowledge and
experiences are excluded, leaving NAPs poorer for it.
Nonetheless, these groups are at the forefront of community-based solutions to the climate crisis. The need to decolonise climate policy and centre Indigenous led solutions and responses are more important than ever. In Sub-Saharan Africa, women are creating practical, community-based solutions that draw on local knowledge and help address long-standing structural challenges to adapt to climate change (Nortey, Boateng, Richards 2025). Indigenous women in Guatemala are involved in the El Astor anti-mining struggle as they are worse affected than men (Deonandan, Tatham & Field 2019).The Kurdish women in Rojava are challenging patriarchy and rebuilding society, rooted in principles of ecological balance in the aftermath of war (Omar 2022). For decades, feminist and grassroots organisations in the Pacific Islands have organised and advocated for climate change, increasing awareness for island nations worldwide and providing practical solutions (Global- Fund for Women 2025).
Against this backdrop, transformative climate action and just transition is the only equitable way ahead to ensure no one is left behind. For just energy transitions and transformative climate action, climate finance plays a critical role. Beyond availability of funds, accountability within funding and governance processes are important to ensure equitable progress. Overall, global climate and environmental policy formulation and implementation needs to recognise, respect, and include the voices and practices of Indigenous People, rural and urban communities and marginalised women while ensuring sustainable economic solutions for communities.
Thus, this special issue seeks to explore the crucial role and contributions of local communities in
building climate justice solutions while challenging and resisting exclusionary climate policies,
exploitative systems, and inequitable funding.
Our guest editors: This special issue will be co-guest edited by Dr. Katie McQuaid, Dr. Dewi
Candraningrum, Dr. Seema Arora-Jonsson and Dr. Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt.
Read the detailed call here: Community-led resistance and responses to climate crises
Submissions
We invite Indigenous scholars and practitioners; rural and urban grassroots leaders; women’s rights
and human rights activists; civil society organisations and networks; researchers, academics, and
policymakers; and human rights and environmental defenders to contribute to this critical theme. We
especially invite contributions that share case studies and practice-based recommendations on climate
justice and solutions.
Please submit your abstract or proposal using the google form link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScisEv8PWjzXj-9OHCNjsj2wUKgpSP3tM8dhPgR5mF8L-KLVw/viewform?usp=header
Deadline: 22 October 2025, 11:59pm UTC.
Please read the Guidelines for contributors carefully before abstract/proposal submission. Please send any queries to genderanddevelopment.south@gmail.com.
Note about Gender and Development:
Gender & Development, co-published by Oxfam and Routledge/Taylor & Francis, has been a steadfast source of essential readings in the field of development for over 30 years. Since its founding in 1993, the journal has critically explored a range of cross-cutting issues in the areas of gender and development. It is a trailblazer in establishing inclusive and decolonialist approaches to knowledge creation and management in the wider international humanitarian and development sectors. While previously hosted by Oxfam Great Britain, a consortium of Oxfam affiliates in the global South – Oxfams Brazil, Colombia, India, Oxfam KEDV (Turkiye), Mexico and South Africa – has now been hosting the journal since 1st January 2022.