Women’s Studies International Forum 109 (2025) 103064 0277-5395/© 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. The intersection of rurality and climate resilience: Insights from women in rural Pakistan Falak Shad Memon a , Fahad Bin Abdullah a,* , Rizwan Iqbal b , Imtiaz Husain c , Sumera Memon d a Department of Environment & Energy Management, Institute of Business Management, Karachi 75190, Pakistan b Department of Computer Engineering, Bahria University, Karachi Campus, Karachi 75260, Pakistan c Department of Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Sciences, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi, Pakistan d Department of Media and Communication Studies, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi, Pakistan A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Adaptive capacity Climate change adaptation Rural women Urban women Sustainability practices ABSTRACT This study examines the adaptive capacity and comprehension of climate change adaptation among women in rural and urban areas of Pakistan, with a particular focus on their involvement in sustainability practices. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 400 women through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The findings reveal that while women in both settings exhibit an awareness of climate change adaptation, their understanding of sustainable development principles remains limited. Rural women, in particular, face unique challenges stemming from insufficient governmental initiatives and inadequate knowl- edge dissemination, which impede their effective participation in sustainability efforts. The study highlights the necessity of targeted educational programs and policy interventions to enhance understanding and promote the implementation of sustainable development, especially in rural contexts. These results indicate that empowering rural women through improved education and robust governmental support has the potential to significantly bolster climate resilience and foster sustainable practices across Pakistan. 1. Introduction Pakistan faces severe climate change impacts, ranking among the top ten most vulnerable nations due to its diverse geography, socioeconomic challenges, and inadequate adaptation strategies (Malik et al., 2012; Eckstein et al., 2019). The agriculture-dependent economy is especially at risk from rising temperatures, glacier melting, floods, and droughts, disproportionately affecting rural farmers and worsening poverty and food insecurity (Hussain et al., 2020; Khan et al., 2023; Khan, Gao, et al., 2021; Khan, Lei, et al., 2021). Climate variability also disrupts water resources, public health, and economic stability, highlighting the urgent need for improved farming practices, resource management, and climate-smart strategies (Ahmed et al., 2020; Fahad & Wang, 2020; Otto et al., 2023). Delays in decision-making by Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) and uncertain provincial frameworks hinder progress, while sustainable development requires inclusive community engage- ment and the active involvement of women (Habib et al., 2022; Khan et al., 2023; Mittenzwei et al., 2023). Balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship remains critical for Pakistan's future (Malik et al., 2012). Women's perspectives and needs are often neglected in strategic decision-making, despite their crucial roles in conflict resolution, resource management, and access (Kristjanson et al., 2017; Young et al., 2019). Gender influences access to resources, power, and opportunities, shaping how men and women respond to environmental and socio- economic changes (Cannon, 2002). Integrating women's knowledge is essential for effective climate adaptation, as their contributions to food security and biodiversity conservation are vital (Memon et al., 2023; Nelson et al., 2002). Gender-sensitive policies are needed to address the specific challenges women face, particularly in resource-scarce contexts (Sellers, 2016). In countries like Pakistan and Ghana, restrictive social norms, low literacy rates, and unequal access to climate information services exacerbate these disparities, limiting women's ability to adapt to climate impacts (Bryan & Mekonnen, 2023; Partey et al., 2020; PBS, 2017). Their exclusion from policy-making undermines national devel- opment, highlighting the importance of integrating women's insights into environmental governance for sustainable, inclusive progress (Habib et al., 2022; Huq et al., 2004; Memon et al., 2023). * Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: falak.shad@iobm.edu.pk (F.S. Memon), fahad.abdullah@iobm.edu.pk (F.B. Abdullah), imtiaz@smiu.edu.pk (I. Husain), sumera@smiu.edu.pk (S. Memon). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Women's Studies International Forum journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/wsif https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2025.103064 Received 16 September 2024; Received in revised form 23 January 2025; Accepted 27 January 2025