Arianne Navarre-Marie: "Climate change exacerbates poverty and weakens families"

Arianne Navarre-Marie, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, stated that climate change is not just an environmental issue; it disrupts families, increases poverty, and creates social imbalances. She made these comments during the launch of a workshop titled "The Impact of Climate Change on Families," held on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Richelieu Women Empowerment Centre.

The session, organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, aimed to raise awareness among women about the consequences of climate change on family life and empower them to better tackle related challenges.

In her speech, Ms. Navarre-Marie emphasized that climate change negatively affects people's health, noting that sudden climatic changes often lead to stress, which in turn causes various health complications. She reminded attendees that before March 2013, such extreme impacts were rare, but the devastating floods that year marked a turning point, claiming many lives and alerting society to the dangers of a changing climate.

The minister explained that heavy rains particularly affect vulnerable families living in low-lying areas, where homes are often flooded, resulting in immense financial difficulties due to damaged furniture and belongings. This, she added, exacerbates poverty and economic vulnerability. Furthermore, the destruction of crops due to flooding leads to a spike in vegetable prices, making it difficult for many families to access affordable food.

Ms. Navarre-Marie also highlighted the impact of climate change on education, pointing out that children sometimes cannot attend school due to the destruction of school supplies and uniforms caused by flooding. This disruption contributes to widening social inequalities.

To address these issues, the minister called for a change in lifestyle habits. She stressed the need for responsible waste management to prevent drain blockages and advocated for reducing plastic use. She also encouraged the adoption of sustainable practices, such as using solar energy to decrease electricity and water consumption.