Global climate change is an issue of intersectionality. Overlapping injustices across the spectrum of social justice are exasperated by the effects of climate change and climate inaction. This paper explores environmental and reproductive injustices through an intersectional lens, highlighting the relationship between the domination of nature in the context of capitalism and the domination of women in a patriarchal society - revealing the interconnected power structures underpinning both. We examine the ecological consequences of a capitalist, patriarchal social system established by the Global North, and its ongoing neo-colonial exploitation of the Global South, with a focus on the disproportionate impact on women's reproductive autonomy. We confront overpopulation bias rooted in flawed Malthusian ideas and critique misdirected blame placed on the populations most vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis. We build on existing research to investigate climate change's amplifying effect on social inequalities and the overlapping oppressions faced by women of colour in the Global South, such as limited access to reproductive healthcare and increased vulnerability to violence as climate refugees. This work is urgent as siloing social justice issues, like reproductive justice, as separate from climate change mitigation prevents meaningful action. Our research indicates that reproductive justice and environmental justice are inextricably intertwined. Our work calls for a unified action to address the root causes of gender inequality and environmental exploitation and, further, to advocate for marginalized communities facing compounding injustices due to overpopulation discourse, neo-colonial actions, and climate change. Essay submission was sponsored by RIO (Research and Innovation Office), and was presented at the Coquitlam campus on April 8, 2025, for Student Research Days 2025.
