We often think about the impacts of extreme heat in terms of wildfires, droughts, or pressure on our health systems. But there is another consequence that receives far less attention.

Violence against women is already widespread across Europe. Around one in three women in the European Union has experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15.

Research is increasingly showing that climate-related stress, particularly extreme heat, can intensify existing risks. According to UN Women, every 1°C increase in global temperature is associated with a 4.7% increase in intimate partner violence. Furthermore, heat can increase tension and conflict, even when it does not directly cause violence.

Research suggests several possible reasons for this. Extreme heat can increase physiological stress, irritability, and aggression, disrupt sleep, and make it harder to regulate emotions and impulses. During heatwaves, people may also spend more time together indoors, increasing opportunities for conflict, while financial pressures and other climate-related stresses can further intensify existing tensions.

None of this excuses or explains away abusive behaviour. Violence is always a choice and the responsibility of the perpetrator. Extreme heat does not cause someone to become abusive – it can amplify the conditions in which existing patterns of violence become more likely or more severe.

Despite these patterns, the connection between climate stress and women’s safety is rarely acknowledged in public conversations. This divide makes it harder to see how climate stress affects everyday safety, freedom, and control – and why efforts to prevent violence and protect women must adapt as climate impacts grow.

Whether you're learning about this connection for the first time or already working on these issues, there are ways to help.

• Learn more about how climate change and violence against women intersect. (See some introductory resources below.)

• If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, contact a local support organisation or helpline.

• Ring the bell. If you are a neighbour and do not want to call the police or confront the abuser directly, use a simple pretext to interrupt the situation—for example, ask to borrow a household item (such as a cup of sugar or an iron) or ask an everyday question (e.g. "Have you seen my cat?"). Even a brief interruption can reduce or stop the violence in that moment and might save someone's life.

• Support organisations in your country working to prevent violence against women and support survivors through donations, volunteering, or advocacy.

• Share this information to help bring this overlooked issue into public conversation.

• Call for climate policies that recognise women's safety, ensuring that efforts to adapt to a changing climate also strengthen protection and prevention.

If you'd like to explore the research behind this campaign, we recommend:

Research

• Understanding the link between heat and intimate partner violence – this study finds that extreme heat leads to a 6% rise in total IPV offences, with a stronger increase for severe cases.

• Do heatwaves/above-average temperature increase interpersonal violent behavior? A scoping review – a review of evidence linking elevated temperatures to increased interpersonal violence and recommendations for climate adaptation.

• Heat wave and the risk of intimate partner violence – research examining how heatwaves are associated with increased risk of intimate partner violence over time.

• Do gender-based violence interventions consider the impacts of climate change? A systematic review – a review highlighting the need for violence prevention and response programmes to better account for climate-related risks.

Books

• Feminism for a World on Fire by Natasha Walter – this book takes an ecofeminist perspective, arguing that climate change intensifies gender inequality, including violence against women, food insecurity, and displacement.

• The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence by Peter Schwarzstein – this book examines how climate change contributes to many forms of violence, including violence against women.