Ecological feminism, aka ecofeminism, is a branch of feminism that sees the oppression of women and the environment as fundamentally intertwined.

The term was first coined in the 1970s by French feminist Françoise d'Eaubonne, who saw the patriarchy as not only harmful towards women, but also a contributor to increases in pollution and other types of environmental exploitation.

As with any crisis, the most vulnerable groups suffer the greatest burdens. With our climate crisis, women and other marginalized groups are among the most impacted. For instance, according to a study conducted by the United Nations, 80% of people who are displaced as a result of climate change are women. Besides displacement, poverty, sexual violence, and disease are some of the other burdens from climate change that severely impact marginalized communities. Women also make up a large part of areas of the workforce, especially in the global south, that are hardest hit by climate change such as fishing and agriculture.

With this in mind, globally, women earn 23% less than men, and thus are less likely to have the socioeconomic power to adapt to climate change and increased extreme weather events. The overlapping oppression from both the patriarchy and our changing climate magnifies the impact of environmental exploitation on women.

Ecofeminism recognizes these overlapping oppressions and advocates for solutions that simultaneously address both feminism and environmentalism. Any improvements in women's rights must not be made at the expense of the environment, while any strategies to solve environmental degradation should not be taken at the expense of gender equality.

Moreover, the United Nations has promoted investing in women as an important solution. For example, the UN's 5th Sustainable Development Goal centers on women's empowerment and gender equality. However, the average representation of women in climate negotiating bodies is nonetheless below 30%. In order for significant progress regarding ecofeminism to be made, women must be included in conversations and policy debates surrounding the environment.