Extreme weather amplifies gender inequalities and heightens the risk of violence. We’re working to understand more about the impact of climate on gender inequity and health, and how to address these intersecting crises.
There is a strong link between climate change and gender-based violence. Whether it manifests as an acute disaster like a hurricane or wildfire, or more incremental change like rising ambient temperatures, climate change heightens preexisting conflict, vulnerabilities, and insecurity—including drivers of gender-based violence. For this reason, it’s known as a “threat multiplier” of GBV. (UN Women, 2025)
Strength and Serenity’s work at the nexus of climate change, GBV, and women’s health is solution-focused: we’re working not only to describe the problem, but to implement strategies that help us build a world informed by climate justice and gender equity.
Climate-just GBV response in the Philippines
We are undertaking a mixed-methods study examining the implementation of a strengthened, multisectoral, and climate-just response to GBV in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, Philippines. Through surveys and focus group discussions, the research explores the feasibility, acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, fidelity, and sustainability of the training while identifying contextual factors that facilitate or hinder implementation.
Domestic violence shelters’ experience during extreme weather
While links have been established between intimate partner violence and various types of extreme weather events, the impact of these events on domestic violence shelter services remains unclear. Not only do shelters have a deep understanding of what their residents need during weather disasters, but they themselves are at risk during extreme weather. Strength and Serenity is studying the needs of U.S. domestic violence shelters during extreme weather.
Heatwaves and preterm birth in Texas
As heatwaves become longer and more intense, the risks they pose to pregnant people remain poorly understood. This project combines more than a decade of Texas birth records with daily temperature data to examine whether extreme heat late in pregnancy increases the likelihood of preterm birth and to identify who is most at risk. By considering maternal age alongside neighborhood social vulnerability, we aim to identify the communities where heat-health warnings, cooling resources, and prenatal counseling could have the greatest impact.