Climate change has a global impact on populations heavily reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods, particularly those lacking the capacity to plan and respond to environmental hazards such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes. The most vulnerable to these effects are often impoverished individuals, with women disproportionately affected due to factors such as unequal work opportunities and wages, as well as limited participation in decision-making roles. Gender disparities in education, job access, unpaid care responsibilities, and rates of gender-based violence further exacerbate the climate crisis like every other humanitarian and developmental challenge, hindering progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Despite facing these challenges, women play a crucial role in climate change response through their daily involvement in household and community matters, demonstrating a natural aptitude for sustainable resource management. Leveraging this inherent skill can help establish a more balanced approach to addressing climate change and resource sustainability. In more affluent societies, women often lead the way in promoting sustainable living practices by influencing consumer choices, advocating for eco-friendly products, and conserving resources within the home.
Recognizing women’s pivotal role in climate solutions, it is essential to prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment at all stages of policy development and implementation. Conducting gender analysis to assess the differential impacts of climate change on men and women is crucial for designing evidence-based policies that address the unique needs and constraints faced by each gender. By understanding the distribution of resources, opportunities, constraints, and power dynamics within a given context, policymakers can develop inclusive climate actions that benefit both men and women alike.
In rural areas, the agricultural sector is significantly impacted by climate change on a large scale. In developing countries, nearly half of the agricultural labour force consists of women. Empowering women in agriculture can have a positive effect on climate adaptation by providing them with modern technology and adequate resources. Perhaps this will lead to increased agricultural output, reduced hunger and poverty, enhanced trade of agricultural products, and success in achieving the food for all mission.
Involving women in the planning process to develop capacity-building strategies and implementing them in communities is crucial, as women play a vital role in community activities and disaster management within families and communities. Therefore, they can meaningfully add in building a community comprising climate resilient members. Climate change affects all individuals in society, with vulnerable populations experiencing more severe impacts, worsening existing inequalities. Women often bear the responsibility for household energy, food, water, and caregiving, particularly in developing countries and rural areas where climate change leads to scarcity of household energy, food and water, requiring women to travel longer distances to meet these needs like procuring clean drinking water or gathering wood to light up their earthen ovens. This increased household burden not only reduces women’s time for paid labour, but poses risks to their personal safety, making them highly susceptible to exploitation. It increases their vulnerability to the various negative impacts of climate change like human trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery. Empowering women and promoting gender equality are essential to address these challenges, leading to environmental conservation and progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Recognizing the importance of gender in climate planning at the national level is crucial. The Gender Action Plan under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) emphasizes women’s full and meaningful engagement in the international climate process to ensure their decision-making role in climate solutions. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, requiring the active participation of the entire population in climate action. Given that women and girls make up half of the world’s population, their full participation in climate action is essential across all sectors and levels of society to save the environment.
Debarati Bhattacharyya
+44 7824 072001
debabhatt2003@yahoo.co.in