Examining the Lack of a Unified Global South Voice in Climate Discourse: An Eco-Feminist Perspective

Abstract

The climate crisis disproportionately impacts the Global South, yet its collective voice in international negotiations remains fragmented and marginalized. This paper examines the lack of a unified Global South voice through an eco-feminist lens, which connects gender equity with environmental justice. Eco-feminist theory argues that patriarchal and colonial structures have oppressed both women and nature, compounding climate injustice for the poor and marginalized in the Global South. Using qualitative analysis and two case studies, it analyzes how intersecting oppressions (gender, class, race, and colonial history) weaken Global South solidarity in climate forums. This paper finds that economic pressures, diverse vulnerabilities, and geopolitical dynamics all erode unity, while women and indigenous leaders are often sidelined. The paper concludes that an eco-feminist approach, empowering grassroots women’s movements, valuing indigenous knowledge, and demanding equitable finance, can strengthen a collective Global South agenda. By centering the voices of women and frontline communities, and by reforming North-dominated climate institutions, the Global South can enhance its influence and pursue climate justice.