Women are disproportionately affected by climate change in several ways:
1) They constitute the majority of the world's poor and are more dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods that are threatened by climate change.
2) Climate change exacerbates issues like food insecurity, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity, and health problems that impact women's lives directly through their roles and responsibilities.
3) Environmental degradation and climate change impacts like flooding and drought increase human migration, which often results in poorer outcomes for women in less developed countries.
This document discusses the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and the need for greater inclusion of women in climate change adaptation and decision-making. Some key points:
- Women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change like droughts and floods as they are often responsible for tasks like securing food and water for households.
- Women have unequal access to resources and are underrepresented in climate-related decision making, making them more at risk from natural disasters.
- While women are more severely impacted, their knowledge is not utilized in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts due to their exclusion from these processes.
- Major international agreements and institutions related to climate change have predominantly male participation and do not adequately address
Theme: Interrogating Climate Change, Resource Scarcity and the Paradigm shift...
This document examines farmer-herder conflicts in Africa that have emerged as new threats to community cohesion. These conflicts are linked to climate change and increasing pressure on resources. As rainfall and grazing lands decline due to climate change, competition for farmland and water intensifies between farmers and herders. This has led to new forms of conflict across many African countries. The document discusses PAID's framework for addressing these issues and proposes ways to promote more sustainable resource management, agricultural innovation, and conflict resolution between farmers and herders.
Women face disadvantages related to the environment and natural resources due to traditional gender roles. They spend significant time collecting water, fuel, and farming without secure land rights. This limits their time for other activities and subjects them to health and safety risks. Integrating gender considerations into environmental policies and increasing women's access to resources and decision making can improve environmental sustainability and reduce poverty and hunger.
This document discusses the roles of several influential women in environmentalism and sustainable development. It introduces Rachel Carson, known for her book Silent Spring about the impacts of pesticides on nature. Maria Cherkasova is highlighted as a journalist and ecologist in Russia. Vandana Shiva and Wangari Maathai are presented as environmental activists advocating for traditional farming and reforestation, respectively. Medha Patkar and Sugathakumari led important movements involving dams and forest protection in India. Mayilamma protested the environmental impacts of Coca-Cola in her village. Overall the document emphasizes the importance of women's perspectives and participation in environmental issues and development.
Livelihood is defined as the activities people perform to meet their basic needs like food, water, shelter, and clothing. This can be done individually or collectively using human and material resources.
Natural resource management deals with how people and landscapes interact. It aims to ensure the sustainability of key industries like agriculture, mining, and forestry by recognizing that human livelihoods depend on healthy environments.
Community-based natural resource management combines conservation with economic benefits for local communities. It acknowledges that indigenous groups are well-placed to conserve resources if the benefits of conservation outweigh the costs and if resources are directly linked to quality of life.
Vulnerabilityin the Face of Climate Change and Variability: Perceptions and O...
This document summarizes a study on farm households' perceptions of vulnerability to climate change and their coping strategies in northern Ghana. Key findings include:
1) Farmers perceived changes in climate over the last 30 years, including increasing temperatures, shorter rainy seasons, prolonged dry seasons, and erratic rainfall patterns.
2) Farmers attributed these changes to illicit human activities like robbery and adultery, believing the gods and ancestors were punishing them through changes in the climate.
3) Common coping strategies adopted by farm households included selling casual labor, charcoal making, petty trading, brewing alcohol, collecting shea nuts, and temporary migration to find work elsewhere.
The document discusses the need to achieve sustainable development and food security as the world population grows. It notes that many believe it is possible to eradicate hunger within the next generation through increased agricultural production, improved supply chains, reduced food losses, and ensuring all people have access to nutritious food. The UN's Zero Hunger Challenge and Sustainable Development Goal 2 aim to end hunger by 2030 through strategies like increasing smallholder productivity and income, eliminating food waste, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
1) Climate change is exacerbating vulnerabilities and changing resource distribution in the Sahel region of Africa, impacting livelihoods and potentially leading to increased migration, conflict and instability. 2) Regional climate trends show rising temperatures, more frequent/intense droughts and floods, though rainfall remains below historical averages. 3) Changes are reducing natural resource availability, increasing competition and potential for tensions between communities over scarce land and water. Addressing climate impacts and the underlying problems is needed to break cycles of crisis in the Sahel region.
Conflicts among farmers and pastoralists in northern nigeria induced by fresh...Alexander Decker
This document summarizes a study on conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in northern Nigeria induced by freshwater scarcity. The study found a significant positive relationship between freshwater scarcity and conflicts among farmers and pastoralists. It also found that the struggle for access to water sources, rather than water scarcity itself, was the most potent predictor of the causes of conflicts. Demographic factors like age, religion, ethnicity, education level, and socioeconomic status were found to have an insignificant relationship with conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.
This document discusses the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and the need for greater inclusion of women in climate change adaptation and decision-making. Some key points:
- Women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change like droughts and floods as they are often responsible for tasks like securing food and water for households.
- Women have unequal access to resources and are underrepresented in climate-related decision making, making them more at risk from natural disasters.
- While women are more severely impacted, their knowledge is not utilized in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts due to their exclusion from these processes.
- Major international agreements and institutions related to climate change have predominantly male participation and do not adequately address
Theme: Interrogating Climate Change, Resource Scarcity and the Paradigm shift...Dr. Dan EKONGWE
This document examines farmer-herder conflicts in Africa that have emerged as new threats to community cohesion. These conflicts are linked to climate change and increasing pressure on resources. As rainfall and grazing lands decline due to climate change, competition for farmland and water intensifies between farmers and herders. This has led to new forms of conflict across many African countries. The document discusses PAID's framework for addressing these issues and proposes ways to promote more sustainable resource management, agricultural innovation, and conflict resolution between farmers and herders.
Women face disadvantages related to the environment and natural resources due to traditional gender roles. They spend significant time collecting water, fuel, and farming without secure land rights. This limits their time for other activities and subjects them to health and safety risks. Integrating gender considerations into environmental policies and increasing women's access to resources and decision making can improve environmental sustainability and reduce poverty and hunger.
This document discusses the roles of several influential women in environmentalism and sustainable development. It introduces Rachel Carson, known for her book Silent Spring about the impacts of pesticides on nature. Maria Cherkasova is highlighted as a journalist and ecologist in Russia. Vandana Shiva and Wangari Maathai are presented as environmental activists advocating for traditional farming and reforestation, respectively. Medha Patkar and Sugathakumari led important movements involving dams and forest protection in India. Mayilamma protested the environmental impacts of Coca-Cola in her village. Overall the document emphasizes the importance of women's perspectives and participation in environmental issues and development.
Livelihood is defined as the activities people perform to meet their basic needs like food, water, shelter, and clothing. This can be done individually or collectively using human and material resources.
Natural resource management deals with how people and landscapes interact. It aims to ensure the sustainability of key industries like agriculture, mining, and forestry by recognizing that human livelihoods depend on healthy environments.
Community-based natural resource management combines conservation with economic benefits for local communities. It acknowledges that indigenous groups are well-placed to conserve resources if the benefits of conservation outweigh the costs and if resources are directly linked to quality of life.
Vulnerabilityin the Face of Climate Change and Variability: Perceptions and O...inventionjournals
This document summarizes a study on farm households' perceptions of vulnerability to climate change and their coping strategies in northern Ghana. Key findings include:
1) Farmers perceived changes in climate over the last 30 years, including increasing temperatures, shorter rainy seasons, prolonged dry seasons, and erratic rainfall patterns.
2) Farmers attributed these changes to illicit human activities like robbery and adultery, believing the gods and ancestors were punishing them through changes in the climate.
3) Common coping strategies adopted by farm households included selling casual labor, charcoal making, petty trading, brewing alcohol, collecting shea nuts, and temporary migration to find work elsewhere.
This document discusses the importance of urban agriculture and community gardens for promoting food sovereignty and justice. It argues that community gardens can help renew relationships between people and the land, reconnecting humans to the natural cycle. Gardens provide spaces for community building, where marginalized groups can come together to learn from each other and foster respect. Examples of successful community gardens, like Greenleaf Urban Farm and Detroit's D-Town Farm, show how gardening can physically and socially renew neighborhoods while promoting food access, environmental sustainability, and empowerment.
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI)inventionjournals
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI) is an international journal intended for professionals and researchers in all fields of Humanities and Social Science. IJHSSI publishes research articles and reviews within the whole field Humanities and Social Science, new teaching methods, assessment, validation and the impact of new technologies and it will continue to provide information on the latest trends and developments in this ever-expanding subject. The publications of papers are selected through double peer reviewed to ensure originality, relevance, and readability. The articles published in our journal can be accessed online.
This document discusses the relationship between climate change, deforestation, and global public health. It summarizes that climate change and deforestation can impact health through changes in weather patterns, spread of diseases, and loss of forest resources. Physicians often lack training in environmental health, while forests provide nutrition, income and traditional medicines important for communities. International organizations are working to address these issues, but more coordinated efforts are still needed to understand and mitigate the public health effects of climate change and deforestation.
The document discusses the benefits of urban agriculture and victory gardens. It notes that climate change poses grave threats and agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. However, organic agriculture can help mitigate climate change by reducing emissions and sequestering carbon. Urban gardens and farms can produce significant amounts of nutritious foods and provide health, economic, social and environmental benefits. The East Tennessee Earth Alliance aims to promote local food production and traditional food skills as ways to build more sustainable and resilient communities.
Biophysical Foundations of Production and Consumption of Human Economy Source...ijtsrd
Three major problems associated with our management of the world's ecosystems are already causing significant harm to some people, particularly the poor, and unless addressed will substantially diminish the long term benefits we obtain from ecosystems First, approximately 60 15 out of 24 of the ecosystem services examined during the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment are being degraded or used unsustainably, including fresh water, capture fisheries, air and water purification, and the regulation of regional and local climate, natural hazards, and pests. The full costs of the loss and degradation of these ecosystem services are difficult to measure, but the available evidence demonstrates that they are substantial and growing. Many ecosystem services have been degraded as a consequence of actions taken to increase the supply of other services, such as food. These trade offs often shift the costs of degradation from one group of people to another or defer costs to future generations. Second, there is established but incomplete evidence that changes being made in ecosystems are increasing the likelihood of nonlinear changes in ecosystems including accelerating, abrupt, and potentially irreversible changes that have important consequences for human well being. Dr. Anshumala Chandangar "Biophysical Foundations of Production and Consumption of Human Economy Sources and Sink Functions of the Ecosystem" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-5 | Issue-6 , October 2021, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd47663.pdf Paper URL : https://www.ijtsrd.com/economics/other/47663/biophysical-foundations-of-production-and-consumption-of-human-economy-sources-and-sink-functions-of-the-ecosystem/dr-anshumala-chandangar
The document discusses the links between gender, food security, forests, and climate change. It notes that women play multiple roles as farmers, foresters, livestock managers, and more. Their livelihood strategies involve various integrated activities. Women's education and status are correlated with better child nutrition outcomes. The document outlines how climate change will impact men and women differently due to varying roles, resources, knowledge, and vulnerabilities. It calls for empowering women in climate-related decision making, projects, and information to enhance resilience and food security.
perception towards family planning and its implication to environmental susta...IJEAB
This study was conducted aiming at to assess perception of couples towards family planning and its relevance to environmental sustainability and to identify factors hindering family planning practice. Sample respondents for study comprises 90 couples in rural and 28 in urban. Data was collected by using random systematic and simple random sampling methods. The instruments used for data collection were interview and focus group discussion. The research found that there is promising level of awareness on family planning and main source of information were health extension agents. Reported reasons in sought of large number of children were old age support, son or daughter preference, considering children as a wealth, and labor support, religious prohibition. Nearly half of respondent couples approve contraceptives with more approval of women in both settings. Most of the respondents showed positive attitude towards family planning. Furthermore, half of the rural and nearly less than half of the urban respondents approve the importance of family planning for environmental sustainability. During the study period 23.2% of urban and 18.9% of rural couples were using some method of family planning; among which 21.4 of urban and 16.7% of rural women were using modern methods, hence, awareness level and practice in family planning showed a gap in both urban and rural. In general, urban showed more favorable attitude and practice than rural couples in family planning. Despite of their lower practice in family planning, rural respondents likely showed more favorable attitudes towards relevance of family planning for environmental sustainability.
This document discusses key environmental issues and conservation efforts. It provides facts on issues like access to clean water and the impacts of deforestation and climate change. It then summarizes challenges in South Africa, including high biodiversity threatened by habitat loss, water scarcity exacerbated by population growth, and an energy system reliant on coal. Conservation efforts in the country aim to protect natural resources and transition to renewable energy, but implementation of laws and policies remains a challenge. Supporting environmental sustainability through projects that enlist leadership and develop local expertise can help address issues in a sustainable way.
The Rockefeller Foundation’s Oceans & Fisheries work aims to increase the health and productivity of coastal fisheries by replacing unsustainable fishing practices with innovative approaches that recognize the full, long-term value of sustainable marine ecosystems and that improve the economic, nutritional, and social conditions of the poor and vulnerable people whose well-being depends on these near-shore fisheries.
A healthy and sustainable environment for futureDr Lendy Spires
The document provides an overview of the EU's environmental policy. It explains that the EU develops environmental policy through a democratic process involving consultation, and that policy aims to enhance natural resources while safeguarding public health. The challenges to the environment have evolved over time to include issues like resource efficiency and sustainability. Environmental and economic goals are now seen as complementary, and the EU works internationally to encourage high environmental standards.
POLITICAL DIALOGUE ON HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER ARTICLE 8 OF THE COTONOU AGREEMENTDr Lendy Spires
The study assesses the effectiveness of the EU's political dialogue on human rights under Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement with African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries. It analyzes the inclusiveness, comprehensiveness, effectiveness, alignment, and impact of the dialogue based on a review of legal provisions and case studies of dialogues in 8 countries. The study concludes that while the dialogues aim to promote human rights, their effectiveness is limited by tensions with partner governments and a lack of strategic approach. It recommends developing a more strategic dialogue, enhancing legitimacy, ensuring monitoring of results, and fully exploiting development programs to strengthen the human rights dialogue.
1. The document analyzes how climate change may impact forest fire risk globally based on meteorological factors.
2. It finds that increased temperatures are the primary driver of increased fire danger projections, followed by decreased humidity which is also influenced by higher temperatures.
3. Using climate models and fire weather indices, it projects increases in fire danger over most regions by 2080 under non-mitigation scenarios, with the largest increases in Europe, Amazonia, and parts of North America and East Asia. Lower but still significant increases are seen under a mitigation scenario.
Catalyzing Equitable Development: An Initiative to Institutionalize a Gender...Dr Lendy Spires
The Catalyzing Equitable Development (CED) Program responded to two questions that are key to gender equality and effective development. First, can organizations effectively integrate gender in their programs and operations? And second, to the extent they can, does gender integration enhance development outcomes?
The CED program demonstrated that the answer to both of these questions is a strong “yes.” InterAction’s Commission on the Advancement of Women (CAW) implemented this program from January 2003-September 2006. The aim of the program was to institutionalize a gender perspective in the work of development and humanitarian assistance PVOs and NGOs as a necessary means to improve living conditions for poor communities in Africa and Asia. The program focused on building the capacity of PVOs and NGOs through training and technical assistance in Inter-Action’s Gender Audit Organizational Self Assessment and Action Planning methodology.
These organizations are major contributors to global development, collectively implementing about 40% of US government funded development assistance as well as administering over $7 billion annually in assistance from private sources and in-kind contributions. The program targeted the very way PVOs and NGOs do their work and enhanced the effectiveness of their field programs by reducing gender inequalities and promoting women’s and girls’ full participation throughout their operations.
However, the program did not stop at capacity building, but assessed the impact of capacity building at the field level. A unique feature of the program was a study on the impact of gender mainstreaming in four African countries, one of the few such impact studies that has been carried out globally by donors, governments, or the United Nations. In addition, the program documented innovative practices in gender integration from the Asia-Pacific region and drew out lessons learned to guide other planners and practitioners. Major accomplishments of the program are: 287 individuals and approximately 173 organizations (or country offices) participated in eight Gender Audit Courses and seven Gender Audit Workshops in the US and overseas. The Courses were offered in the U.S., Ghana, Kenya, and the Philippines. The workshops were offered in New York, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
This document provides an overview of existing frameworks promoting gender equality and women's participation in decision-making. It highlights best practices from various levels, including establishing targets for gender balance in international bodies. The report recommends that parties to the UNFCCC adopt temporary special measures to ensure adequate representation of women in delegations and leadership positions. It also suggests monitoring and reporting mechanisms to track progress, such as maintaining an online database of participants' gender. The goal is to build on existing efforts and transform decision-making processes at all levels to achieve true gender equality.
Responsible business conduct is an essential part of an open international investment climate. MNE activities often span multiple countries and many cultural, legal, and regulatory environments. This complexity, coupled with the intensely competitive nature of international business, presents MNEs and their stakeholders with unique and specific challenges. Although many MNEs demonstrate a respect for high standards of business conduct, some may neglect the appropriate principles and standards of conduct in an attempt to gain undue competitive advantage. This may be particularly true in environments where regulatory, legal, and institutional frameworks are underdeveloped or fragile. More and more enterprises are responding by committing to responsible business practices, promoting dialogue, and engaging with stakeholders. Addressing societal concerns while advancing enterprise interests can be mutually supportive
This document analyzes how climate change will increase weather-related disasters in Europe and Central Asia through higher temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and more extreme weather events. It recommends that countries focus on reducing vulnerability and planning measures to mitigate natural hazard risks as part of climate change adaptation. The paper outlines measures for disaster risk management, financial instruments, risk mitigation, and emergency preparedness that can help reduce current and future vulnerabilities to climate change impacts in the region.
This document summarizes a paper that analyzes the relationship between the formal and informal sectors in India. It begins by reviewing literature on the linkages between agriculture and the formal sector, including demand-side linkages through income redistribution and mutual exchange, and supply-side linkages as agriculture provides wage goods, raw materials, and prevents a "profit squeeze" in the formal sector. The paper then proposes departing from models where prices determine resource allocation and output, and instead assumes rigid wages and terms of trade between agriculture and the formal sector due to powerful lobbying groups. It plans to build a macroeconomic framework to analyze whether the formal and informal sectors have a complementary or conflicting relationship.
The document summarizes a study on the role of the informal sector in poverty reduction and food security in Malawi. Key findings from the study include:
- Agriculture is the main livelihood for most respondents, with over 86.7% depending on own production for food.
- Income generating activities (IGAs) play an important role in supporting agricultural production by providing income to purchase household needs and farm inputs.
- The study recommends encouraging IGAs to sustain household food security and reduce poverty levels by supporting agricultural productivity.
1. The document discusses the informal economy of South Africa, particularly in Johannesburg. It defines the informal economy and explains that it makes up a significant portion of South Africa's GDP and employment.
2. The South African government views the economy as consisting of two separate structures - a formal and informal economy. However, the document argues they are integrated and interdependent. It provides examples of links between informal and formal businesses.
3. The City of Johannesburg's new policy on informal street trading is criticized for not adequately involving traders. It could result in traders being banned from parts of the city in preparation for the 2010 World Cup without protecting their rights.
Assessing regional intergration in africa towards an african continental fr...Dr Lendy Spires
This document discusses progress towards establishing an African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) to promote regional economic integration across the continent. It provides an overview of the status of integration in the eight Regional Economic Communities recognized by the African Union, and analyzes the potential economic impacts and challenges of establishing a CFTA to liberalize trade and movement of factors of production throughout Africa. The document concludes by outlining perspectives and key steps for fast-tracking the establishment of a CFTA.
This document contains the proceedings from the conference "Innovation Systems for Resilient Livelihoods: Connecting Theory to Practice" held in Johannesburg, South Africa from August 26-28, 2013. The conference was organized by RAEIN-Africa and funded by DGIS of Netherlands to discuss innovation systems approaches for development. Over 100 participants from government, civil society, private sector, and universities in Southern Africa attended. The conference included sessions on the role of science, technology and innovation in development; practical experiences of technology development; and innovation in policy development and public participation. The proceedings provide insights from the conference, emerging challenges, conclusions and recommendations on strengthening co-innovation in the region.
Work life innovation the role of networked technologiesDr Lendy Spires
This document discusses how networked technologies are enabling innovation in work-life balance. It is the fourth in a series exploring geographically distributed work. The document has two parts: Part 1 examines how technologies currently impact work and personal lives, as well as innovation processes. It provides examples like Smart Work Centers and Active Collaboration Rooms. Part 2 will discuss emerging technologies like cloud computing, connected devices, and collaboration platforms that are enabling new ways of working and living in a distributed manner. The document argues these technologies are driving open innovation and helping organizations, communities, and individuals achieve new outcomes.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to providing development assistance that improves the lives of women, men, and children around the world. USAID has a special interest in the advancement of women worldwide. Women’s health, education, economic opportunity and human rights are at the core of successful, stable societies and economic growth.
One of the fundamental principles of the Department of State/USAID strategic plan is that “all citizens, men and women, are vital to meeting the critical challenges of today and reaching the goals of equality, peace and security.” USAID’s commitment to the full inclusion of women dates back to 1973, when the United States Congress passed the “Percy Amendment” to the Foreign Assistance Act, requiring that particular attention be given to integrating women into national economies to improve the status of women and to assist the overall development effort.
Today, USAID embraces this goal, and seeks to understand the different needs of men and women, to improve the efficiency and overall impact of its programs, and to ensure that both women and men have equitable access to development activities and their benefits. This document profiles USAID efforts to address barriers to full access to opportunity for women and men throughout the developing world. The success stories are a testament to the progress women and men have made. The selected examples illustrate the many efforts made by the USAID field missions, the Office of Women in Development, and other operating units in USAID to fully integrate women into development programs and policies throughout USAID. It is important to note that women’s leadership is not treated as a separate category in this report, but is reflected in all the examples.
Women are becoming political leaders, grassroots leaders, leaders in their professions, leaders in their communities, and heads of households, especially in regions ravaged by HIV/AIDS and conflict, and are growing into leaders in many other ways. As a result, all USAID efforts to support women’s skills, opportunities and rights contribute to “women’s leadership.” WOMEN, MEN AND DEVELOPMENT 1
This document discusses IFAD's growing commitment to environment and natural resource management. It summarizes IFAD's experience with projects focused on soil conservation, watershed management, deforestation, and other environmental themes. Many of IFAD's projects are in marginal, ecologically fragile areas where rural poverty and environmental degradation are linked. The document provides examples of IFAD projects that aim to address issues like genetic erosion in Africa and improve technologies for wetland rice producers in Asia.
This document summarizes key discussions from a 2009 conference hosted by The Wallace Foundation about challenges facing arts organizations in engaging audiences during economic hardship. Conference attendees shared ideas on how to take a long-term view of participation building despite short-term budget issues. Major topics included using research to understand changing audiences, harnessing new technologies, attracting diverse groups, and promoting inter-organizational cooperation to strengthen the arts sector overall. The conference aimed to help arts leaders navigate economic challenges by focusing on long-term audience development.
Gender consideration in environmental concerns and plansanupriya banerjee
This document discusses gender considerations in environmental concerns and plans, with a special focus on the role of women. It defines key terms like environment, gender, and environmental concerns. It explains how gender relations determine access to resources and power over the environment. Women are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and pollution due to their roles. The impacts of issues like climate change on women are outlined, as are critical areas of concern and responses through programs and policies. Case studies and ways to involve women in environmental efforts are presented before concluding that women can be the best protectors of nature due to their direct connections and ability to pass on knowledge.
This document discusses the linkages between gender and climate change in Asia and the Pacific region. It finds that women are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to social inequalities that limit their economic opportunities and political participation. Integrating a gender perspective into climate policies and programs is important to minimize risks to women and ensure the success of adaptation and mitigation efforts.
This document discusses the linkages between gender and climate change in Asia and the Pacific region. It finds that women are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to social, economic and political barriers that constrain their opportunities. Women often have less access to resources, participation in decision making, and mobility, making it difficult for them to cope with or adapt to climate changes. However, women also play important roles in environmental management and have knowledge that could contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. The document calls for integrating gender perspectives into climate policies and programs in order to address both women's and men's needs, ensure women's participation, and support women's empowerment.
women's ADAPTATION to climate change. .pptxHIGAZY123
Women are disproportionately affected by climate change due to their social and economic roles. They represent the majority of the world's poor and depend more on threatened natural resources. However, women have historically developed adaptation strategies and possess valuable knowledge about water and resource management, food preservation, and withstanding disasters. The document provides examples of women adapting to climate impacts through practices like switching crops, finding alternative incomes, and collectively organizing. It argues that empowering women with access to resources, education, and participation in decision making can help communities better cope with climate change.
The document discusses how climate change disproportionately impacts women. It notes that women are more dependent on natural resources for tasks like collecting water and food. Climate disasters exacerbate gender inequalities by increasing women's workloads and restricting their access to education and resources. The impacts of climate change on women are often overlooked in international agreements. Studies show women face higher risks during natural disasters and their agricultural livelihoods are threatened by climate impacts like changing rainfall patterns and food price increases.
This document discusses the impact of desertification and dryland projects on women. It finds that desertification has increased women's workloads and responsibilities as their access to productive assets like land and livestock has decreased. Women are often excluded from participation in land conservation projects and decision-making due to traditional gender norms. However, the document also discusses how women can play an important role in restoring drylands by drawing on their traditional knowledge. It provides examples of projects that have worked to strengthen rural women's organizations and capacity to create more enabling environments for women to participate.
This is the 11th lesson of the course 'Poverty and Environment ' taught at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
Janice E. Olawoye presented on adaptation to climate change and indigenous and formal mitigation strategies. She discussed how climate change negatively impacts people through changes in weather patterns, threats to food security and health. Indigenous communities have adapted through practices like multiple cropping and migration. However, increased frequency and intensity of climate events requires more formal strategies like afforestation, drought-resistant crops, and early warning systems. Adaptation is needed to support livelihoods as traditional strategies are no longer sufficient. Gender must also be considered in climate policies and projects to address women's increased burdens. Individual actions like conserving resources and research can contribute to addressing this challenge.
Relationship Between Population,Environment and Developmenteshamwata
This document discusses the relationship between population growth, development, and the environment. It notes that population growth and increased development activities place stress on the Earth's natural resources and can lead to environmental degradation. Several schools of thought are described that have different perspectives on this relationship, such as Malthusians who believe population growth will exceed resources, and neoclassical economists who believe human innovation will overcome resource scarcity. The document outlines global efforts to address the impacts of population growth on the environment since the 1970s. It concludes that alleviating poverty, empowering women, and developing more sustainable lifestyles are critical to providing a decent quality of life without damaging the environment.
Climate change will have significant negative human rights impacts, especially on the world's poorest people. It will exacerbate issues like mass migration, worsening health crises, and loss of livelihoods and culture. While climate change policies have not sufficiently considered human rights, viewing climate change through a human rights lens can help address its impacts and manage responses in a way that respects people's basic rights and needs. Odisha is particularly vulnerable to climate change effects like stronger cyclones, floods and droughts that threaten lives, livelihoods and development. Considering human rights and building community resilience are important for addressing the challenges people face.
Climate change will have significant negative human rights impacts, especially on the world's poorest populations who are most vulnerable but have the weakest protections. It will exacerbate issues like mass migration, loss of livelihoods and land, food and water insecurity. While climate change policies have not sufficiently considered human rights, viewing climate change through a human rights lens can help address its impacts and manage responses in a way that respects people's basic rights and dignity. Odisha is particularly vulnerable to climate change effects like stronger cyclones, floods and droughts that threaten lives, livelihoods and development.
Climate change is likely to increase human suffering through increased migration, strain on health systems, threats to food and water security, loss of shelter and livelihoods, and potential for conflicts. However, the human rights aspects of climate change have not received sufficient attention. The effects of climate change will be most severe in poorer countries with weak human rights protections. It is critical that human rights are included in climate change policies and planning to protect vulnerable populations. Odisha is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change such as increased flooding, drought, cyclones and disturbances that threaten livelihoods, health, and human security. Chronic poverty, food insecurity, distress migration and other human rights issues exist in the state and are exacerb
BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGYAkshay Goyal
Biodiversity reflects the variety of living organisms and how they interact in ecosystems. It is declining rapidly due to human activities like habitat loss, pollution, and overexploitation of resources. This biodiversity loss negatively impacts human well-being by reducing food security, water quality, and resilience to natural disasters. Four scenarios for the future were explored that consider different levels of globalization and approaches to environmental management. All scenarios found that biodiversity will continue declining due to expanding agriculture and shrinking forests. Protected areas and market-based conservation efforts can help slow this loss if carefully implemented.
Gender and Climate Change in Viet Nam.pdfTruongPhan43
The report provides an overview of the relationship between gender equality and climate change in Viet Nam through five primary areas, including (1) Access to early warning and forecast information, (2) Agriculture and Food Security, (3) Energy, (4) Waste Management, and (5) People and health. Furthermore, the report analyses related policy gaps, challenges, and opportunities for mainstreaming gender into climate change and recommends solutions for integrating gender into the National Climate Change Strategy for 2050.
The document discusses the concept of sustainability and sustainable development. It explains that growing human populations are placing pressure on natural resources and ecosystems. Sustainability aims to meet present needs without compromising future generations by achieving economic growth, environmental protection, and social equality. The document provides examples throughout history where unsustainable practices led to environmental degradation and the decline of societies. It emphasizes the need to understand ecosystems and modify human activities to conserve resources for the long term.
In Zambia, gender issues related to climate change have not been adequately considered in most environmental policies. Women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as higher mortality during disasters, increased risk of water-borne disease, and greater domestic burdens from impacts like drought. As women rely more on natural resources and face more severe effects of declining agricultural productivity, they are disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation and climate change. While Zambia faces numerous environmental problems, more work is still needed to advance women's empowerment and gender equality, which are key to achieving climate change goals. Empowering women and utilizing their knowledge can help develop effective strategies for climate change adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction.
Biodiversity encompasses all life forms on Earth from single-celled organisms to multi-celled organisms. It is the source of essential goods and ecological services that support all life. Understanding biodiversity requires studying the relationships between living and non-living components of ecosystems. As human inhabitants, we must preserve biodiversity since we depend on it for needs like food, water, and fuel. Loss of biodiversity puts these ecosystem services at risk and can negatively impact human health, livelihoods, and security. Threats to biodiversity include habitat loss, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation. Maintaining biodiversity is crucial for nutrition, health, and sustainable development.
Poverty and the environment are closely interrelated, as the poor often bear the brunt of environmental damage and are caught in a downward spiral. There are four main forms of poverty related to land use: areas with productive agricultural land where the poor lack access; marginal lands with few opportunities; coastal areas with depleted resources; and urban slums with poor conditions. Poverty has both internal causes like lack of assets as well as external causes such as debt and exposure to international competition. Environmental degradation due to poverty is a major concern, as it sets off a downward cycle and threatens health. 'Environmental entitlements' looks at what resources people have access to and their ability to use them.
Similar to Women and climate_change_factsheet (20)
1. UN WomenWatch: www.un.org/womenwatch
The UN Internet Gateway on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
Fact Sheet
Women, Gender Equality and Climate Change
Detrimental effects of climate change can be
felt in the short-term through natural hazards,
such as landslides, floods and hurricanes; and
in the long-term, through more gradual deg-radation
of the environment. The adverse ef-fects
of these events are already felt in many
areas, including in relation to, inter alia, ag-riculture
and food security; biodiversity and
ecosystems; water resources; human health;
human settlements and migration patterns;
and energy, transport and industry.
In many of these contexts, women are more
vulnerable to the effects of climate change
than men—primarily as they constitute the
majority of the world’s poor and are more
dependent for their livelihood on natural re-sources
that are threatened by climate change.
Furthermore, they face social, economic and
political barriers that limit their coping ca-pacity.
Women and men in rural areas in developing countries are especially vulnerable when they are highly dependent on local
natural resources for their livelihood. Those charged with the responsibility to secure water, food and fuel for cooking and heating face
the greatest challenges. Secondly, when coupled with unequal access to resources and to decision-making processes, limited mobility
places women in rural areas in a position where they are disproportionately affected by climate change. It is thus important to identify
gender-sensitive strategies to respond to the environmental and humanitarian crises caused by climate change.1
It is important to remember, however, that women are not only vulnerable to climate change but they are also effective actors or agents
of change in relation to both mitigation and adaptation. Women often have a strong body of knowledge and expertise that can be
used in climate change mitigation, disaster reduction and adaptation strategies. Furthermore, women’s responsibilities in households
and communities, as stewards of natural and household resources, positions them well to contribute to livelihood strategies adapted
to changing environmental realities.1
An analysis of how women are affected by these issues; and how they respond, is provided below together with references to relevant
United Nations mandates and information sources.
The Need for Gender Sensitive Responses to the
Effects of Climate Change
Women, agriculture and food security in the context
of climate change
Climate change has serious ramifications in four dimensions of food security: food
availability, food accessibility, food utilization and food systems stability. Women
farmers currently account for 45-80 per cent of all food production in developing
countries depending on the region. About two-thirds of the female labour force
in developing countries, and more than 90 percent in many African countries,
Photo Credit: UNICEF/LeMoyne
Photo Credit: UN Photo / Tim McKulka
2. are engaged in agricultural work.4 In the context of climate change, traditional food sources become more unpredictable and scarce.
Women face loss of income as well as harvests—often their sole sources of food and income. Related increases in food prices make food
more inaccessible to poor people, in particular to women and girls whose health has been found to decline more than male health in
times of food shortages. Furthermore, women are often excluded from decision-making on access to and the use of land and resources
critical to their livelihoods.5 For these reasons, it is important that the rights of rural women are ensured in regards to food security,
non-discriminatory access to resources, and equitable participation in decision-making processes.
UN publications:
• Rural Households and Sustainability: Integrating environmental and gender concerns into home economics curricula
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/V5406e/V5406e00.htm
• Environment and Natural Resource Management: IFAD’ s Growing Commitment
http://www.ifad.org/pub/enviorn/EnvironENG.pdf
Other resources on UN websites:
• Gender and Food Security – Environment
http://www.fao.org/gender/en/env-e.htm
• FAO FOCUS: Women and Food Security
http://www.fao.org/FOCUS/E/Women/Sustin-e.htm
• Climate Change, a Further Challenge for Gender Equity: How men and women farmers are differently affected
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000809/index.html
• Climate Change: Focusing on how the vulnerable can cope – News Room: FAO pilots emerging strategies to alleviate
weather-related consequences
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000724/index.html
Women, gender equality and biodiversity in the context of climate change
According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, climate change is likely to become the dominant driver for the loss of biodiver-sity
by the end of the century. Biodiversity plays an in important role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. For example, in
contexts where deforestation is responsible for an average of 20% of human-induced carbon dioxide emissions, the conservation of
natural habitats can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.6 Additionally, the conservation of mangroves
and drought-resistant crops can reduce the impacts of climate change such as flooding and famine.
In the rural areas of Africa and Asia, women and men are highly dependent on biomass, such
as wood, agricultural crops, wastes and forest resources for their energy and livelihoods. How-ever,
in the face of climate change, the ability of women and men to obtain these indispensable
resources is reduced.7 It is important to note that the declining biodiversity does not solely im-pact
the material welfare and livelihoods of people; it also cripples access to security, resiliency,
social relations, health, and freedom of choices and actions.8
The majority of the biodiversity decline has a disproportionate impact primarily on poor peo-ple
in developing countries. To give a few examples, declining fish populations have major
Photo Credit: FAO / Pius Ekpei
implications for artisanal fishers and communities that depend on fish. Moreover, in many
parts of the world, deforestation has meant that wood - the most widely used solid fuel - is located further away from the places where
people live. In poor communities in most developing countries, women and girls are responsible for collecting traditional fuels, a
physically draining task that can take from 2 to 20 or more hours per week. As a result, women have less time to fulfil their domestic
responsibilities, earn money, engage in politics or other public activities, learn to read or acquire other skills, or simply rest. Girls are
sometimes kept home from school to help gather fuel, perpetuating the cycle of disempowerment. Moreover, when environmental
degradation forces them to search farther afield for resources, women and girls become more vulnerable to injuries from carrying heavy
loads long distances,9 and also face increased risk of sexual harassment and assault.
Biodiversity, Indigenous Women and Climate Change
Biodiversity also comes in the form of the wealth of knowledge on the environment that indigenous people and communities possess.
Indigenous knowledge comprises: an understanding of wild ancestors of food, medicinal plants and domestic animals; symbiotic rela-tions
with ecosystems; an awareness of the structure of ecosystems and the functionality of specific species; as well as the geographic
ranges of said species.10 In order to further preserve biodiversity and limit its degradation, indigenous people can and should play a
3. leading role in the global response to climate change. This should be particularly emphasised with regards to indigenous women who
play a vital role as stewards of natural resources.11 A greater inclusion of indigenous communities and indigenous women further
validates the significance of their knowledge.
UN publications:
• Gender and Sustainable Development in Drylands: an Analysis of Field Experiences
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/j0086e/j0086e00.pdf
• Gender and Desertification: Expanding roles for women to restore drylands
http://www.ifad.org/pub/gender/desert/gender_desert.pdf
• Gender and Desertification: Making ends meet in drylands
http://www.ifad.org/pub/gender/desert/gender_desert_leaf.pdf
• Gender and Equity Issues in Liquid Biofuels Production. Minimizing the risks to maximize the opportunities
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai503e/ai503e00.pdf
• Rural Households and Sustainability: Integrating environmental and gender concerns into home economics curricula
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/V5406e/V5406e00.htm
• Energy and Gender: In rural sustainable development, Rome, 2006
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai021e/ai021e00.pdf
• 2004. Gender Perspectives on the Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification. Rome, FAO
http://www.fao.org/sd/dim_pe1/pe1_041002_en.htm
• Environment and Natural Resource Management: IFAD’ s Growing Commitment
http://www.ifad.org/pub/enviorn/EnvironENG.pdf
• Adivasi Women: Engaging with Climate Change (April 2009)
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/Side_events_UNPFII08_all_revised.doc
Other resources on UN websites:
• Gender and Dryland Management: Gender roles in Transformation
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/y4788E/y4788E00.pdf
• Gender Perspectives on the Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification
http://www.fao.org/sd/dim_pe1/docs/pe1_041002d1_en.doc
• Insights into Gender and the Environment: Gender and Sustainable Land Management
http://www.unep.org/gender_env/Information_Material/SustainableLand.asp
• Sustainable Energy Services: The Gender Dimension
http://www.undp.org/women/mainstream/SustainableEnergyServices.pdf
• Biodiversity for Development: The Gender Dimension
http://www.undp.org/women/mainstream/BiodiversityForDevelopment.pdf
• People-Centred Climate Change Adaptation: Integrating Gender Issues
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1395e/a1395e00.pdf
• Inter-agency Support Group on Indigenous Peoples: Issues Paper on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change English,
Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Seventh session
21 April - 2 May 2008, New York, E/C.19/2008/CRP.2 7
http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/tk/emccilc-01/other/emccilc-01-ipcc-en.pdf
• Indigenous Women, Territoriality and Biodiversity in the Latin American Context (SPANISH)
www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2007-009.pdf
Women, gender equality and water resources in the context of climate change
Climate change has significant impacts on fresh water sources, affecting the availability of water used for domestic and productive
tasks. The consequences of the increased frequency in floods and droughts are far reaching, particularly for vulnerable groups, includ-ing
women who are responsible for water management at the household level.12
All over the developing world, women and girls bear the burden of fetching water for their families and spend significant amounts of
time daily hauling water from distant sources. The water from distant sources is rarely enough to meet the needs of the household and
is often contaminated, such that women and girls also pay the heaviest price for poor sanitation.13 To give an example, in cases where
the arsenic contamination of groundwater is prominent, increased flood levels intensify the rate of exposure among rural people and
other socio-economically disadvantaged groups.14 The resulting health problems include: lesions, the hardening of skin, dark spots on
hands and feet, swollen limbs and the loss of feeling.15 Arsenic exposure also manifests itself in the form of skin lesions that usually
4. have negative social repercussions for arsenic-poisoning (arsenicosis)
victims—the situation is particularly worse for women who can be
shunned, excluded, and stigmatised, based on physical appearance—
this also impacts the ability of single women to get married, and in
many cases unmarried women are more vulnerable to poverty and
social exclusion.16
Given the changing climate, inadequate access to water and poor
water quality does not only affect women, their responsibilities as
primary givers, and the health of their families’, it also impacts agri-cultural
production and the care of livestock; and increases the over-all
amount of labour that is expended to collect, store, protect and
distribute water.
Photo Credit: UNICEF / Pirozzi
UN publications:
• Gender and Water – Securing Water for Improved Rural Livelihoods: The multiple-uses system approach
http://www.ifad.org/gender/thematic/water/gender_water.pdf
• 2008. Climate change, water and food security. High Level Conference on World Food Security - Background Paper
HLC/08/BAK/2. FAO.
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/meeting/013/ai783e.pdf
Other resources on UN websites:
• Towards Sustainable Food Security: Women and Water Resources
http://www.fao.org/sd/fsdirect/fbdirect/FSP003.htm
• Women and Water
http://www.unifem.org/attachments/stories/at_a_glance_water_rights.pdf
• Gender, Water and Sanitation
http://www.unwater.org/downloads/unwpolbrief230606.pdf
Women, gender equality and health in the context of climate change
For In terms of health, some potential climate change scenarios include: increased morbidity and mortality due to heat waves, floods,
storms, fires and droughts. What’s more, the risk of contracting serious illnesses is aggravated by environmental hazards caused by
climate change. In addition to the reference provided above of climate impacting women’s health through water scarcity and water
contamination, an abundance of evidence links the evolution and distribution of infectious diseases to climate and weather. This en-tails
a greater incidence of infectious diseases such as cholera, malaria, and dengue fever, due to the extension of risk seasons and wider
geographic distribution of disease vectors.17
Whilst climate defines the geographical distribution of infectious diseases, weather influences the timing and severity of epidemics.
Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, for example, are particularly sensitive to variations in climate. Warmth accelerates the biting rate
of mosquitoes and speeds up the maturation process of the parasites they carry. Sub-Saharan Africa is already home to the most effi-cient
mosquito species and to the most severe forms of malaria. Rising temperatures are likely to accelerate the lifecycle of the malaria
parasite and to spread malaria to new areas.18
Furthermore, floods—increasing consistently with climate change—may also increase the prevalence of water-related diseases, espe-cially
water and vector-borne diseases, which affect millions of poor people each year. In addition, an increase in prevalence of diseases
will likely aggravate women’s care-giving of family and community members who are ill. These diseases include malaria, onchocercia-sis,
schistosomiasis and diarrheoa.
UN publications:
• Women, Health and the Environment
Our Planet (Volume 15, No 12)
http://www.unep.org/ourplanet/imgversn/152/images/Our_Planet_15.2.pdf
5. Other resources on UN websites:
• Climate Change and Health: Preparing for unprecedented challenges
Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/2007/20071211_maryland/en/index.html?language
• EUR/5067874/15, Gender Inequities in Environmental Health
25th Session of the European Environment and Health Committee, 01 March 2008
http://www.euro.who.int/Document/EEHC/25th_EEHC_Milan_edoc15.pdf
Women, gender equality and changes in human settlements and migration patterns
due to environmental degradation
Climate change adds a new complexity to the areas of human mobility and settlement by exacerbating environmental degradation.
The gradual process of environmental deterioration is likely to increase the flows of both internal and cross-border human migration
over the next decades.19 Increased human migration entails that a greater number of people are being displaced due to severe coastal
weather events, the erosion of shorelines, coastal flooding, droughts and agricultural disruption. For example, Cyclone Nargis that
struck the Irrawaddy Delta region in Myanmar in May 2008 severely af-fected
2.4 million people and led to the displacement of 800,000 people.20
Similarly, desertification distressing the dryland regions of Mexico leads
600,000 to 700,000 people to migrate from these areas annually.21 The mi-gratory
consequences of environmental factors result in higher death rates
for women in least developed countries, as a direct link to their socioeco-nomic
status, to behavioural restrictions and poor access to information.
While migration is a survival response to climate change, frequent human
resettlement further exacerbates the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems.22
This is the case given that migration entails vast changes in land-use, the
physical modification of rivers or water withdrawal from rivers, the loss of
coral reefs, and damage to sea flows, among other things.23
Photo Credit: UN Photo / Logan Abassi
UN publications:
• Migration, Climate Change and the Environment (Policy Brief )
http://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/policy_and_research/policy_documents/policy_brief.pdf
• Climate Change, Migration and Human Rights, Address by Ms. Kyung-wha Kang Deputy High Commissioner for
Human Rights Office of the United Nations
Conference on Climate Change and Migration: Addressing Vulnerabilities and Harnessing Opportunities, 19 February
2008, Geneva
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/BA5B630BFFAD7FC1C12573F600386398?opendocument
Other resources on UN websites:
• Climate Change and Environmentally Induced Migration
http://www.unep.org/conflictsanddisasters/Policy/DisasterRiskReduction/ClimateChangeAndMigration/tabid/282/
language/en-US/Default.aspx
• IOM webpage on Migration, Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
http://www.iom.int/envmig
• Key Messages and Related Research on Population Dynamics And Climate Change
http://www.unfpa.org/pds/climate/messages.html
Implications of climate change for women’s human rights
Studies show that global warming and extreme weather conditions may have calamitous human rights consequences for millions of
people. Global warming is one of the leading causes and greatest contributors to world hunger, malnutrition, exposure to disease, and
declining access to water. Moreover it poses limitations to adequate housing, spurring the loss of livelihoods as a result of permanent
displacement. Climate change affects the economic and social rights of countless individuals; this includes their rights to food, health
and shelter.24 As climate change will inevitably continue to affect humanity, a key UN priority is safeguarding the human rights of
people whose lives are most adversely affected.25
6. UN Resolutions and Declarations:
• Human Rights and Climate Change Resolution 7/23, March 2008
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/climatechange/docs/Resolution_7_23.pdf
Other resources on UN websites:
• Women’s poverty, empowerment must be addressed to meet development goals- press release on the general discussion of
the Commission on Status of Women, 46th Session.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/wom1322.doc.htm
• Redressing ‘power equation’ between women and men, eradicating women’s poverty- press release on the general discussion
of the Commission on the Status of Women, 46th session.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2002/wom1323.doc.htm
• Climate Change, Migration and Human Rights: Address by Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for
Human Rights Office of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change and Migration: Addressing Vulnerabilities
and Harnessing Opportunities, 19 February 2008, Geneva
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/BA5B630BFFAD7FC1C12573F600386398?opendocument
• Climate Change and Human Rights
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Climate.aspx
• Human Rights and Environment Issues in Multilateral Treaties Adopted between 1991 and 2001 - Background Paper
No. 1, Joint UNEP-OHCHR Expert Seminar on Human Rights and the Environment, 14-16 January 2002, Geneva
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/environment/environ/bp1.htm
GENDER-SENSITIVE RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Change
Incorporating gender perspectives and involving women as agents of change in
responses
Four areas have been identified as critical building blocks in response to climate change: mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer
and financing. The first two blocks are linked to manifestations of climate change; and the latter two are linked to the means for
achieving development goals.26 Mitigation involves a process of curbing greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, for example
emissions from fossil fuels as well as deforestation, with a view to stabilizing greenhouse gas concentration at a safe level. Adaptation
involves a range of activities to reduce vulnerability and build resilience in key sectors, such as water, agriculture and human settle-ments.
New and improved technologies and financing initiatives at all levels also need to receive attention as part of collective efforts
to address climate change.1
Mitigation and adaptation efforts should systematically and effectively address gender-specific impacts of climate change in the areas
of, inter alia, food security, agriculture and fisheries; biodiversity; water; health; human rights; and peace and security.
Financing mechanisms must be flexible enough to reflect women’s priorities and needs. The active participation of women in the
development of funding criteria and allocation of resources for climate change initiatives is critical, particularly at local levels. Gender
analysis of all budget lines and financial instruments for climate change is needed to ensure gender-sensitive investments in pro-grammes
for adaptation, mitigation, technology transfer and capacity building.1
Technological developments related to climate change should take into account women’s specific priorities, needs and roles, and make
full use of their knowledge and expertise, including indigenous knowledge and traditional practices. Women’s involvement in the
development of new technologies can ensure that they are user-friendly, affordable, effective and sustainable. Gender inequalities in
access to resources, including credit, extension services, information and technology, must be taken into account in developing activi-ties
designed to curb climate change. Women should also have equal access to training, credit and skills-development programmes to
ensure their full participation in climate change initiatives.1
Governments should thus be encouraged to incorporate gender perspectives into their national policies, action plans and other
measures on sustainable development and climate change, through carrying out systematic gender analysis; collecting and utilizing
sex-disaggregated data; establishing gender-sensitive benchmarks and indicators; and developing practical tools to support increased
attention to gender perspectives.
7. The consultation and participation of women in climate change initiatives must be ensured, and the role of women’s groups and
networks strengthened. Currently, women are underrepresented in the decision-making process on environmental governance. They
should be equally represented in decision-making structures to allow them to contribute their unique and valuable perspectives and
expertise on climate change.1 Women can make substantive contributions through their knowledge and experience on issues related to
the management of natural resources. For example, women in leadership positions— at national, local and community levels—have
made a visible difference in natural disaster responses, both in emergency rescue and evacuation efforts and in post-disaster reconstruc-tion,
as well as in the management of essential natural resources, such as fresh water.
Women, gender equality and energy
Energy is a particularly critical area and renewable energy is often cited as a key climate change mitigation technology. Many people
question the role of women in energy issues, where energy is primarily thought of in terms of: electricity to operate appliances and
equipment, gasoline and diesel fuels for motors and vehicles, and the delivery of oil for natural gas. Dealing with these different
mediums (electricity and fuel) is often considered as men’s work, where women are not expected to be involved with power genera-tion
and fuel distribution.27 As a result of these considerations, women and men face differences in training and social expectations,
where women are not usually included in discussions about energy plans and policies. This exclusion also means that women do not
participate in, nor contribute to the elaboration of key strategies to mitigate climate change. However, in many developing countries,
especially in the poorest areas, most energy currently comes from traditional biomass fuels such as wood, charcoal and agricultural
wastes – and collecting and managing these fuels is strictly the business of women. It follows that the lack of recognition of the role of
women in the energy sector, leads to ‘gender-blind’ (this is to say that gender is not taken into consideration) energy policies that fail
to address some of the most pressing factors affecting the capacity of developing countries to adapt and mitigate climate change.
Linkages between energy supplies, gender roles and climate change are strongest in countries with low availability of basic electricity
and modern fuels, as well as high dependence on biomass fuels for cooking, heating and lighting – and close to two billion people
in the developing world use traditional biomass fuels as their primary source of energy.28 In these countries, cultural traditions make
women responsible for gathering fuel and providing food, even when this involves long hours performing heavy physical labour or
travelling longer distances. With the onslaught of aggravated environmental changes, women are likely to continue spending long
(perhaps even longer) hours fetching firewood, drawing water, working the land, and grinding cereal crops.
Given these numerous responsibilities and tasks, women in developing countries should be actively engaged in national energy deci-sion-
making. Women should be given greater involvement so that energy supplies can be managed more effectively and productively
in the face of climate change, but also so that the dependence on biomass fuels can be quelled, raising communities out of extreme
poverty.29
UN Publications:
• Resource Guide on Gender and Climate Change
http://content.undp.org/go/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=1854911
• Training Manual on Gender and Climate Change
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900sid/ASAZ-7SNCA9/$file/UNDP_Mar2009.pdf?openelement
• Energy and Gender for Sustainable Development
http://www.energyandenvironment.undp.org/undp/index.cfm?module=Library&page=Document&DocumentID=5108
Other resources on UN websites:
• UNDP Gender and Energy site
http://www.undp.org/energy/engmdgtop3gen.htm
Women, gender equality and technology in adaptation responses to climate
change
The word “technology” is typically known to mean simply a tool or machine. However, the term has now evolved to a broader concept
that also includes knowledge, processes, activities, and socio-cultural context. As such, technology reflects the foundation of everyday
life and touches upon most aspects of both women and men’s lives. Moreover, most methods of adaptation to climate change involve
some form of technology: this can include “soft” technologies based on insurance schemes, crop rotation patterns or traditional knowl-edge;
it may also include “hard” technologies such as irrigation systems, drought resistant seeds or sea defences.30
8. Technology is never gender-neutral and when coupled with the negative effects of the changing climate, it is even less gender-sensitive.
In many developing countries, the access of girls and women to information and communication technology is constrained by: social
and cultural bias, inadequate technological infrastructure in rural areas, women’s lower educations levels (especially in the fields of sci-ence
and technology) and the fear of or lack of interest in technology, and women’s lack of disposable income to purchase technology
services.31
Since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) positioned clean technologies at the centre of
global responses to climate change, technology has become increasingly relevant in adapting to and mitigating climate change.32 At
the same time, a number of UN mechanisms and frameworks have started to address climate change and technology. Furthermore,
the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) which emerged from the Kyoto Protocol enables industrialised countries to invest in
projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries.
The problem however, is that to date, gender equality is given minimal attention and the degree of difference in the impact of climate
change on women and men has been overlooked.33 It is important to point out that equal inclusion of women and men in all aspects
of climate change projects, including technology, pays off; this is especially true in the case of technologies aimed at tasks most fre-quently
performed by women.34
In order to be effective, adaptation and mitigation technologies need to reach those who are most in need –the poor and vulnerable.
This means that targeted efforts must ensure firstly that it is understood that the situation of women may differ from that of men,
secondly that technologies are designed in such a way as to be relevant to their circumstances and thirdly to ensure that they are given
full access to knowledge, information and technologies related to adaptation.
UN Publications:
• Resource Guide on Gender and Climate Change
http://content.undp.org/go/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=1854911
• Training Manual on Gender and Climate Change
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900sid/ASAZ-7SNCA9/$file/UNDP_Mar2009.pdf?openelement
Women, gender equality and financing of mitigation, adaptation and technology in
relation to climate change
Significant resources are needed to cover the cost of the goods, services and technologies required in the implementation of climate
change measures in developing and developed countries.35 Climate change financing instruments are supposed to be custom-built to
suit the different levels of economic development of the different countries of the global economy. However, factors such as gender
inequality in access to social and physical goods; gender gaps in education, income, time use and leisure; and gender-differentiated
roles and responsibilities in the household, community and labour markets affect the effective channelling of financing to women. In
the first instance, women’s response and ability to cope with climate change issues depend on the robustness of their underlying health
and wellbeing and the breadth of their social networks. In the second instance, women’s ability to adapt to the demands of climate
change depends on the extent of their control over economic resources and access to economic and financial resources.
Dealing successfully with the challenge of risk management, disaster preparedness and climate change-induced-weather challenges re-quire
resources beyond those that are available to meet the day-to-day needs of individuals and households. Empowering and investing
in women are key to combating the effects of desertification and paving the way for poverty alleviation in the world’s least developed
countries.36 However, under the current climate change finance regime, women do not have sufficient access to funds aimed at cover-ing
weather-related losses, nor do they have funds to service adaptation and mitigation technologies.
UN Publications:
• UNDP Paper on gender and climate change finance
(link to be provided soon)
Women, gender equality and emergency measures during natural disasters
At the most basic level, mortality rates for women and men are often different in natural disasters. A 2006 study of 141 natural di-sasters
by the London School of Economics found that when economic and social rights are fulfilled for both sexes, the same number
of women and men die in disasters.37 At the same time, when women do not enjoy economic and social rights equal to men, more
9. women than men die in disasters. This gender discrepancy has come to light in a range of major disasters, including the Asian Tsu-nami;
Hurricane Mitch, Hurricane Katrina, and other storms in the Americas; European heat waves; and cyclones in South Asia, etc.
In some cases, such as in Central America, more men than women have died in natural disasters as they placed themselves at risk while
helping their families.
The vulnerability of women to disasters is increased for a number of reasons. Post-disaster, women are usually at higher risk of being
placed in unsafe, overcrowded shelters, due to lack of assets, such as savings, property or land. In the context of cyclones, floods, and
other disasters that require mobility, cultural constraints on women’s movements may hinder their timely escape, access to shelter
or access to health care. Exacerbating this effect, women often avoid using shelters out of fear of domestic and sexual violence, and
become even less mobile as primary family care-givers.38 Poor women and those in countries of higher gender inequality appear to be
at the highest risk: a direct correlation has been observed between women’s status in society and their likelihood of receiving adequate
health care in times of disaster and environmental stress.39
The UN has identified environmental degradation as a key threat to human security. All post-conflict countries face serious environ-mental
issues that could undermine the peace building processes, if left unaddressed, and specifically affect women who are faced by
a combination of hardships.40
It is thus important to identify gender-sensitive strategies for responding to human security needs and environmental and humani-tarian
crises caused by climate change. These efforts should focus on: reducing women’s vulnerability, in tandem with men’s sus-ceptibilities;
promoting gender sensitive emergency responses; and enlisting women as key environmental actors in natural disaster
management decision-making processes, alongside men, tapping on women’s skills, resourcefulness and leadership in mitigation and
adaptation efforts.41
UN publications:
• Gender Perspectives: Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into Climate Change Adaptation – Good Practices and Lessons
Learned
http://www.unisdr.org/eng/about_isdr/isdr-publications/17-Gender_Perspectives_Integrating_DRR_CC/Gender_Perspectives_
Integrating_DRR_CC_Good%20Practices.pdf
Other resources on UN websites:
• Gender and Post-crisis Reconstruction: A Practitioner’s Handbook (Draft), March 2007
http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/5500_35498_Gender%20Update%202.pdf
• Expert Group Meeting On Gender-Friendly Sustainable Cities in Asia and the Pacific: Rebuilding Communities Affected by
Disaster and Conflict
25-26 June 2007, Fukuoka, Japan
http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/5371_97974_EGMProceedings2.pdf
• Insights into Gender and the Environment: Real Men Unite!
http://www.unep.org/gender_env/Information_Material/RealMenUnite.asp
• Insights into Gender and the Environment: Gender and the post-conflict environment
http://www.unep.org/gender_env/Information_Material/Conflict.asp
• Expert Group Meeting On Gender-Friendly Sustainable Cities in Asia and the Pacific: Rebuilding Communities Affected by
Disaster and Conflict
25-26 June 2007, Fukuoka, Japan
http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/5371_97974_EGMProceedings2.pdf
This fact sheet is available for download at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/climate_change/
Visit the WomenWatch special feature on “Women, Gender Equality and Climate Change” for more information on
global UN commitments, resolutions and other Intergovernmental outcomes, UN publications, other resources on
UN websites, and UN Events: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/climate_change/
10. 1 52nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (2008) “Gender perspectives on climate change,” Issues paper for interactive expert
panel on Emerging issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting the situation of women or equality between women and men.
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw52/issuespapers/ Gender%20and%20climate%20change%20paper%20final.pdf
2 46th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (2002) “Agreed Conclusions,”. Report on the forty-sixth session of Commission on the
Status of Women. Official Records, 2002 supplement No. 7 (E/2002/27-E/CN.6/2002/13). p12. Economic and Social Council, United Nations.
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N02/397/04/PDF/N0239704.pdf?OpenElement
3 52nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (2008) Report on the fifty-second session of Commission on the Status of Women..
Official Records, 2008 Supplement No. 7. (E/2008/27-E/CN.6/2008/11). Economic and Social Council, United Nations.
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/52sess.htm
4 FAO. Women and Food Security. FAO FOCUS
http://www.fao.org/FOCUS/E/Women/Sustin-e.htm
5 FAO. Women and Food Security. FAO FOCUS
http://www.fao.org/FOCUS/E/Women/Sustin-e.htm
6 Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005
http://www.maweb.org/documents/document.354.aspx.pdf
7 Lambrou, Y et al. (2006) Energy and Gender in Rural Sustainable Development. FAO. Rome
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai021e/ai021e00.pdf
8 Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005
http://www.maweb.org/documents/document.354.aspx.pdf
9 UNDP. Sustainable Energy Services: The Gender Dimension.
http://www.undp.org/women/mainstream/SustainableEnergyServices.pdf
10 Resource Guide on Gender and Climate Change
http://content.undp.org/go/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=1854911
11 Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Seventh session (2008.)Issue paper on indigenous peoples and climate change. (E/C.19/2008/CRP.2 7).
New York.
http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/tk/emccilc- 01/other/emccilc-01-ipcc-en.pdf
12 UN Chief Executives Board (CEB). 2007. Coordinated UN System Action on Climate Change.United Nations.
http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/sdd/events/climate/CEB-Climate.pdf
13 UNICEF. Arsenic Mitigation in Bangladesh. Rep. UNICEF. Web.
http://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/Arsenic.pdf
14 Khan, MMH, and Et al. “Magnitude of Arsenic Toxicity in Tube-Well Drinking Water in Bangladesh and its Adverse Effects on Human Health
Including Cancer.” Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 4 (2003). Web.
http://www.apocp.org/cancer_download/Vol4_No1/MMH%20Khan.pdf
15 UNICEF. Arsenic Mitigation in Bangladesh. Rep. UNICEF. Web.
http://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/Arsenic.pdf
16 Ibid.
17 Resource Guide on Gender and Climate Change,
http://content.undp.org/go/cms-service/download/asset/? asset_id=1854911
18 Dr. Margaret Chan. Director General of the World Health Organization.(2007) “Climate Change and Health: Preparing for unprecedented
challenges”, Keynote statement at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Maryland, USA.
http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/2007/20071211_maryland/en/index.html?language
19 Migration, Climate Change and the Environment. Policy brief. IOM, March 2009.
http://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/policy_and_research/policy_documents/policy_brief.pdf
20 Ibid.
21 Ibid.
22 Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005.
http://www.maweb.org/documents/document.354.aspx.pdf
23 Ibid.
24 Ms. Kyung wha-Kang. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR (2008). “Climate Change, Migration and Human Rights”.
Keynote address at Conference on Climate Change and Migration: Addressing Vulnerabilities and Harnessing Opportunities, Geneva.
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/BA5B630BFFAD7FC1C12573F600386398?opendocument
25 OHCHR (2008) A human rights approach to tackling climate change.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/TackingClimateChange.aspx
26 Report on Conference on Climate Change, COP13, Bali, Indonesia.(2007)
http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php
27 Where Energy is Women’s Business: National and Regional Reports from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific
http://www.energia.org/pubs/papers/karlsson_csdbook_lores.pdf
28 Ibid.
29 Where Energy is Women’s Business: National and Regional Reports from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific
http://www.energia.org/pubs/papers/karlsson_csdbook_lores.pdf
30 Training Manual on Gender and Climate Change. Rep. IUCN, UNDP, Global Gender and Climate Alliance. Web.
http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2009-012.pdf