Climate change is sadly by now an everyday global crisis topic, but it is less common to talk about how its effects are felt unevenly across countries, communities, and individuals.

Those who have contributed the least to the problem; rural women, youth, and those living in poverty, often bear the heaviest burdens, facing the most severe impacts while lacking the resources, services, and opportunities needed to adapt and survive. This challenging context not only exposes existing social and economic inequalities but also worsens them. To tackle this issue, it is essential to place people and these deprived social positions at the centre of our attention.

A recent groundbreaking report produced by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, with its Headquarters in Rome, Italy, has brought new evidence of the effects of climate change on these marginalised groups, with a thorough study based on over 109,000 households (representing over 950 million rural people) in 24 countries in 5 regions of the world, and 70 years of geo-referenced rainfall and temperature data. These important findings show how existing social and economic inequalities are even more deepened, making it crucial to focus on these vulnerable groups in the fight for immediate and long-term solutions.

H.R.H. Princess Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies, through her Princess Camilla of Bourbon Charitable Foundation, wishes to draw attention to this sensitive argument, raising awareness about how tackling climate change is crucial for driving collective action and fostering a deeper understanding of its impacts. By educating individuals and communities about the science behind climate change, its effects on ecosystems, and the disproportionate burden faced by vulnerable populations, we can inspire meaningful change.