The disproportionate burden of climate variability on women is primarily due to persistent gender inequalities interconnected with climate risks and vulnerabilities. Gender disparity in terms of access to and control over resources like land, capital, information, innovation, technology, and decisions make women more vulnerable to climate change and susceptible to psychological stress and diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19. For example, women in rural settings have to walk for miles to fetch water from distant sources—often contaminated. Unsafe drinking water exposes the entire family to the risk of water-borne diseases.
An unexpected shift in weather patterns is likely to limit women’s role in agriculture. One of the studies of disaster-prone areas in Sindh, Pakistan, highlights how climate variability affects women’s livelihoods. In the Dadu district of rural Sindh, women used to engage in fishing, net-weaving, and similar fishing- related activities. However, a sudden change in weather patterns has led to a decline in the fish populations, considerably affecting women’s earning opportunities and giving rise to food insecurities at the household level.
Addressing the gender gaps in climate change response is one of the most effective mechanisms for building climate-resilient communities and nations. It is also an opportunity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal or SDGs (SDG -5-gender equality) and to contribute to signs of progress on SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), and SGD 13 (climate action).
When addressing climate change at scale, the paradigm shift in gender-responsive climate actions is commendable. From the deep-rooted perception of women as victims of climate change to women as powerful agents of change, there is a broader realization of the value of gender-responsive climate policies and practices globally.
Women play a vital role as primary natural resource managers and as key actors in building community resilience. As a common coping and adaptation strategy, women often sell or mortgage their jewelry to meet their households’ financial needs. As a part of their post-disaster recovery strategy, they play an active role in rebuilding houses, re-stocking livestock, securing incomes, and restoring other aspects of life, such as children’s education.
Two-pronged approaches can address the unequal burden of climate change on women. Firstly, by acknowledging women as the key actors of change and strengthening their capacity. The second approach includes integrating gender perspectives systematically in policy and planning processes at national, provincial, and local levels.
Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have acknowledged the need to mainstream gender into climate negotiations. More importantly, the Paris Agreement provides a strong basis to adopt gender-responsive approaches to climate adaptation and resilience.
Global Climate Risk Index 20202 shows South Asia as one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal are ranked fifth, seventh, and ninth, respectively, as the most affected countries by climate change from 1999 to 2018. These nations’ levels of vulnerability are further perpetuated by inherent gender inequality, poverty, and other socio-cultural variables.
For example, a recent policy review and analysis of more than a dozen current agriculture and climate change policies in Nepal highlights policy gaps and suggests a set of recommendations for improving gender responsiveness at the policy level. The Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Agriculture policy and the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) recognize women’s role in agriculture and their vulnerability, respectively.
However, the extent of gender integration remains merely limited to recognizing women as a vulnerable group. It does not specify any policy measures or action plans to address the climate change vulnerability of women. The Climate Change Policy, on the other hand, adopts a gender-neutral approach to climate- smart agriculture interventions, despite being one of the key documents guiding overall climate change- related interventions in Nepal.
The CARE project recognizes women’s right to be meaningfully involved in the decision-making process in order to have a gender-transformative environment that will enable women to use their important knowledge and skills to mitigate climate risk.
The writer is a Gender and Inclusion Specialist at ADPC.
