Gender & Climate Change:

Gender & Climate Change: Why Women Are More Vulnerable

Introduction

Climate change is a global crisis affecting everyone, but its impacts are not felt equally across different demographics.

Women, particularly in developing countries, are disproportionately vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

This vulnerability is due to a combination of social, economic, and cultural factors that exacerbate their exposure to climate risks.

Understanding these disparities and implementing gender-responsive climate policies is crucial for creating equitable and effective climate resilience strategies.

The Disproportionate Impact of Climate Change on Women

Social & Economic Inequities

Economic Dependency & Poverty

Women are more likely to live in poverty than men, particularly in developing countries. This economic disparity limits their access to resources needed to cope with climate change.

For instance, women often have less access to financial services, land, and property rights, making it more difficult for them to recover from climate-related disasters. According to the United Nations, women represent 70% of the world's poor, highlighting their heightened vulnerability.

Employment & Labor

Women’s employment is often concentrated in the informal sector, which lacks social protection and job security.

Climate change can disrupt these jobs, particularly in agriculture, where women constitute a significant portion of the workforce.

Changes in precipitation patterns, soil fertility, and crop yields can directly affect their livelihoods.

Additionally, women typically bear the brunt of unpaid domestic and care work, which can increase in burden due to climate impacts, such as longer distances to fetch water or fuel.

Health & Safety Risks

Health Disparities

Climate change exacerbates health disparities between men and women.

Women are more susceptible to health issues stemming from climate change due to their reproductive roles, nutritional needs, and unequal access to healthcare.

For example, pregnant women are at higher risk of complications from heatwaves and infectious diseases such as malaria and Zika virus, which can become more prevalent with changing climates.

Increased Vulnerability to Violence

Climate change can also increase the risk of gender-based violence. In the aftermath of climate-related disasters, women and girls are more vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and trafficking.

Displacement and migration due to climate events often place women in precarious situations where they have less protection and are more exposed to abuse.

The Need for Gender-Responsive Climate Policies

Integrating Gender Perspectives

To address the unique challenges faced by women, it is essential to integrate gender perspectives into climate policies.

This involves recognizing and addressing the specific vulnerabilities and capacities of women in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Policy Development

Gender-responsive policies should ensure women's participation in decision-making processes at all levels.

Women’s voices must be included in the development and implementation of climate policies to ensure that their needs and perspectives are adequately addressed.

This includes involving women in local, national, and international climate negotiations and policy-making bodies.

Building Women's Resilience

Education & Capacity Building

Enhancing women’s access to education and capacity-building initiatives can significantly improve their resilience to climate change.

Educational programs should focus on providing women with knowledge and skills related to climate adaptation, sustainable practices, and disaster risk reduction. Empowering women through education can increase their ability to respond effectively to climate challenges and participate actively in community resilience efforts.

Economic Empowerment

Promoting women’s economic empowerment is critical for building their resilience to climate change.

This includes providing women with access to financial resources, land rights, and income-generating opportunities.

Support for women-led businesses and cooperatives in climate-resilient sectors, such as sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, can enhance their economic security and reduce their vulnerability.

Ensuring Health & Safety

Healthcare Access

Improving women’s access to healthcare services, including reproductive health, is essential for addressing the health impacts of climate change.

Healthcare systems must be strengthened to respond to the specific needs of women, particularly during climate-related disasters.

This includes providing maternal and child health services, as well as addressing the health impacts of heatwaves, vector-borne diseases, and food insecurity.

Protection Measures

Policies and programs should include measures to protect women and girls from violence and exploitation in the context of climate change.

This includes ensuring safe and secure shelters for displaced women, providing legal and psychological support, and implementing community-based protection programs. Engaging men and boys in efforts to prevent gender-based violence and promote gender equality is also crucial.

Case Studies & Best Practices

Bangladesh: Women’s Leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction

In Bangladesh, women have played a pivotal role in disaster risk reduction efforts. Community-based organizations have trained women in early warning systems, emergency response, and sustainable livelihoods.

Women’s involvement has improved community resilience and reduced the impact of climate-related disasters.

Kenya: Women’s Role in Sustainable Agriculture

In Kenya, women farmers have adopted climate-smart agricultural practices to enhance food security and resilience to climate change.

Initiatives such as the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) have supported women in accessing resources, training, and markets.

These efforts have improved agricultural productivity and economic empowerment for women.

The Philippines: Gender-Responsive Climate Policies

The Philippines has integrated gender perspectives into its climate policies and disaster risk management frameworks.

The country’s Gender and Development (GAD) budget policy allocates funds for gender-responsive programs, including those addressing climate change.

This approach has ensured that women’s needs and contributions are considered in national climate strategies.

Climate change poses significant challenges for women, particularly in marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that integrates gender perspectives into climate policies and practices.

By promoting women’s participation, economic empowerment, health, and safety, we can build more resilient and equitable societies.

Gender-responsive climate policies are not only a matter of justice but also a necessary strategy for effective climate action. Ensuring that women have the resources, opportunities, and support to cope with and combat climate change is essential for achieving sustainable development and climate resilience for all.