ABC: Climate change is causing child marriages

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Runa was 15 when she married a man she had never met.

Cyclone Remal had ripped through her camp in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar region, killing her family's chickens and ducks, which were the source of both their food and income.

Runa's mother, who had become the sole income earner after her husband died a year earlier, then lost weeks of labouring work due to the natural disaster.

She could no longer financially support Runa, now 17, and her three brothers.

Twelve million girls are tipped to become child brides this year, according to Plan International.

Child marriage is a global problem across cultures and religions.

It is often inherently linked to gender inequality, poverty, food insecurity, and social norms and practices, including family honour and dowry payments.

Climate change is now believed to be a leading contributor to more frequent and younger nuptials.

"Whenever there is a climate change impact … we see a spike in child marriage," said Plan International's Tanushree Soni.

"The families look to lessen the burden because they don't consider girls to be part of their own families; they consider girls to be part of their [future] husband's family.

"So investing in girls is not a choice they can afford to make."

While climate change is not believed to be increasing the number of tropical storms worldwide, scientists and meteorologists say a warmer atmosphere and rising sea temperatures and levels are increasing their intensity, and the impact they have on communities.

After a natural disaster in Bangladesh, child marriages can surge by up to 39 per cent, according to the International Rescue Committee.

South Asia, one of the most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change, accounts for most of the world's child marriages.

Bangladesh has the highest rate in Asia according to Plan International, with more than 50 per cent of girls married before they turn 18.

Getting married meant Runa had to drop out of school to focus on being a wife and, soon after, a mother.

"I did not want to get married. I wanted to continue my education," she said.

But Runa is, in some ways, one of the lucky ones because a few years later her husband's family allowed her to return to her studies.

"It makes me feel happy and hopeful about my future," she said.

"I also want to make sure that my son receives a good education and has opportunities to achieve his dreams."

Runa wanted to share her story to "help prevent other girls from being married before they are ready".

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