• UGI USER
  • Apr 10, 2024
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THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS NOT GENDER NEUTRAL

Syllabus:

  • GS 1: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
  • GS 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Focus:

  • The Supreme Court of India has just ruled that people have a right to be free from the adverse effects of climate change, and the right to a clean environment is already recognised as a fundamental right within the ambit of the right to life.
Source: X.com

The climate crisis presents a formidable challenge that affects individuals and communities worldwide, but not uniformly. Women, particularly in vulnerable settings, bear the brunt of climate change impacts due to societal roles, economic disparities, and health vulnerabilities. Recognizing and addressing the gendered dimensions of climate change is crucial for developing effective and equitable strategies for mitigation and adaptation.

The Disproportionate Impact of Climate Change on Women

  • Vulnerability in Disasters: Women and children are 14 times more likely to die in a disaster, showing the gender-differentiated impact of climate crises.
  • Agricultural Livelihoods: In India, women heavily rely on agriculture, a sector significantly affected by climate change, leading to increased food insecurity and economic instability.
  • Health Risks: Women face higher health risks from climate-induced conditions, including increased domestic workloads, worse health outcomes, and a rise in intimate partner violence.
  • Exposure to Heat and Pollution: Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are especially vulnerable to heatwaves and air pollution, impacting women’s health and the development of unborn children.
  • Nutritional Insecurity: Climate change exacerbates food and nutritional insecurity for women, impacting their physical and mental health.

Climate Change Mitigation and Women’s Role

  • Empowering Women: Empowering women leads to better climate solutions, with evidence showing increased agricultural yields when women have equal access to resources.
  • Inclusion in Climate Action: Women’s participation is crucial for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, necessitating their involvement in environmental conservation and adaptation measures.
  • Local Solutions by Women: Supporting women and women collectives (like Self-help Groups and Farmer Producer Organizations) with knowledge, tools, and resources can foster local climate solutions.
  • Gender-based Violence and Extreme Events: A correlation exists between climate-induced natural hazards and gender-based violence, underlining the need for protective measures for women.
  • Water Shortage and Women’s Burden: Climate change aggravates water scarcity, increasing the drudgery for women and impacting their time for productive work and health care.

Immediate Actions and Long-term Strategies

  • Protecting Vulnerable Groups: Implementing measures to mitigate the impact of heatwaves on sensitive groups and improving urban planning to reduce heat are essential.
  • Enhancing Water Security: Reviving traditional rainwater harvesting systems and using technology for better water management can alleviate water scarcity.
  • Urban Planning for Cooler Cities: Initiatives like the Mahila Housing Trust’s use of reflective paint to reduce indoor temperatures illustrate practical, immediate climate adaptations.
  • Investing in Research: Filling data gaps with gender-disaggregated research can guide effective climate action plans and interventions.
  • Community-led Solutions: Promoting community-led resilience building, especially at the village level, can ensure more targeted and efficient climate adaptation strategies.

Policy and Planning with a Gender Lens

  • Incorporating a Gender Perspective: National and State Action Plans on Climate Change should apply a gender lens to recognize women as agents of change, not just victims.
  • Recognizing Vulnerabilities and Capacities: Policies should acknowledge the specific vulnerabilities of women to climate change while highlighting their capacity to contribute to mitigation and adaptation efforts.
  • Empowering Women in Policy-making: Women should be included in climate policy-making processes to ensure their experiences and needs shape climate action.
  • Supporting Gender-transformative Strategies: Climate action plans should move beyond stereotypes to implement strategies that transform gender dynamics and promote equality.
  • Comprehensive and Equitable Approaches: Revising current climate plans to include comprehensive, gender-equitable strategies is crucial for inclusive and effective climate action.

In conclusion, addressing the climate crisis requires a nuanced understanding of its gendered impacts and the mobilization of women as key agents of change. By integrating gender perspectives into climate policies, supporting women’s empowerment, and implementing gender-transformative strategies, we can enhance the resilience of communities and forge a path towards a sustainable and equitable future. The active participation and leadership of women in climate action are indispensable in achieving global climate goals and ensuring the well-being of all.

Women lead Initiatives

1. Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA)

The Women’s Earth Alliance is a global initiative that empowers women leaders with the skills, resources, and support networks to solve critical environmental challenges in their communities. WEA operates on the belief that when women come together, they can catalyze sustainable change. Through training, advocacy, and a focus on indigenous practices, WEA supports projects that address water scarcity, food security, and renewable energy solutions.

2. Mothers of Invention

Mothers of Invention is a podcast and a movement highlighting feminist climate change solutions from around the world. Co-founded by former Irish President Mary Robinson and comedian Maeve Higgins, this initiative shines a spotlight on women driving bold, innovative strategies to combat climate change. It amplifies voices that are often marginalized in mainstream environmental discussions, including those of women from indigenous communities and developing nations.

3. Solar Sister

Solar Sister supports women in Africa to deliver clean energy directly to homes in rural African communities. The initiative recruits, trains, and supports women entrepreneurs to build businesses selling solar lamps, mobile phone chargers, and fuel-efficient stoves. By empowering women as leaders in the clean energy revolution, Solar Sister addresses climate change, women’s empowerment, and rural energy access simultaneously.

4. Project Drawdown’s Women and Girls Sector

Project Drawdown recognizes the empowerment of women and girls as one of the most effective strategies for achieving significant reductions in carbon emissions. The initiative focuses on education and family planning as key areas where empowering women and girls can lead to a cascade of benefits for climate resilience. By ensuring women have equal access to education and healthcare, societies can make strides in reducing poverty, improving health outcomes, and lowering carbon emissions through more sustainable population growth rates.

5. Women’s Climate Centers International (WCCI)

WCCI focuses on creating climate-resilient communities by empowering women as climate change leaders and innovators. The organization works in vulnerable regions to provide women with the tools and knowledge they need to lead their communities in adaptation and mitigation practices. Their projects include creating climate-resilient agricultural practices, water management solutions, and disaster risk reduction strategies

Source:

https://epaper.thehindu.com/reader

Mains Practice Question:

GS 1 :

How does climate change exacerbate gender inequalities, and what socio-cultural factors contribute to the increased vulnerability of women in disaster and climate-related events?

GS 3:

Considering the critical role of women in agriculture and resource management, how can empowering women be central to climate adaptation strategies and sustainable development goals in the context of India?

Associated Articles:

https://universalinstitutions.com/climate-change-and-the-ocean/