Climate Change Through the Lens of Feminist Philosophy

Abstract

This essay offers an overview of feminist philosophical reflections on climate change. Feminist philosophical work in the fields of epistemology, philosophy of science, and environmental studies, as well as feminist ethical and social/political perspectives have the potential to make essential contributions to discourses on climate change. In particular, a feminist philosophical lens is particularly salient in identifying gendered conceptualizations in climate change knowledge (sciences, including the social sciences) and practices (policy and activist responses). These gendered constructions are often less visible than the differential impacts of climate change on the lives of women and men, but as they permeate what we know and do not know, what we value and value less, as well as how we do and do not act, they are essential to gender justice in the context of climate change.