Climate change and gender

Climate change and gender 

 The COP27 Gender Thematic Day was held on November 14 to demand justice for women and girls who have been harmed by climate-driven disasters. In order to incorporate gender sensibilities into climate change negotiations, a number of significant developments took place.

Gender-equality considerations have been added to the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of 97 countries, compared to 49 in the first generation, as stated in the UNFCCC document titled "Gender in Climate Finance Framework and NDCs." In contrast to one country in 2015, gender has been mentioned in climate finance strategies in 21 countries.

Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the targets of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement will all be compromised if women are not given central roles in climate negotiations and gender-led climate policies are not developed. In order to achieve climate justice, generational equality must be promised.

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change in various industries worldwide. Climate change has a number of negative effects on women and girls. Disasters caused by climate change exacerbate existing structural inequality in societies. Women's health suffers more from extreme weather like heatwaves than men's.

The agricultural industry is associated with women in developing countries, particularly those who come from rural communities. Save the Children says that 60-80% of food production is done by women and girls, who make up more than 40% of the agricultural workforce. Women who work in fields are less able to work and their health deteriorates as a result of extreme weather, which reduces crop yields.

Climate change challenges like food insecurity make it hard for pregnant women to get nutritious food, which causes problems like miscarriages, anemia, and premature births. Women with these medical conditions also experience mental depression and mental health issues. "There are almost 650,000 pregnant women in Pakistan's flood-affected areas, with up to 73,000 expected to give birth in the next month," the UN's reproductive health agency estimated in August 2022. Malnutrition and health emergencies abound for these women who have already been forced to flee their homes due to the devastating floods.

Additionally, climate crises increase the likelihood of poverty and take away economic opportunities for girls and women. Women and girls who work in agriculture are less able to support themselves financially because of damage caused by floods and heat waves. Women and girls also feel unsafe as a result of climate disasters. Women account for 80% of the people forced to relocate as a result of climate change, according to the UN Environment Programme. Gender-based violence, kidnapping, abduction, and trafficking are more likely to happen to women and girls who have been forced from their homes. Because traditional barriers prevent women from leaving places that are prone to climate disasters alone, women face greater physical threats to their lives in natural disasters than men do.

Women and girls lose out on opportunities to get an education and improve their lifestyles as a result of financial crises and climate change-related infrastructure damage. The poor cannot afford to educate their daughters when they are in the midst of an economic crisis, which is why the rate at which girls drop out of school after disasters caused by climate change rises.

Gender-led climate justice must be the primary focus of the nations gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh for the C0P27 climate change negotiations. When it comes to demanding climate justice, women play a central and significant role. Projects should be launched by the government to teach women how to adapt to extreme weather and make necessary adjustments in the agriculture sector to accommodate the shifting weather patterns. In a similar vein, women who live in climate-prone disaster zones require instruction in safety measures. Women and girls should be informed about shelters, relevant helplines, and immediate responses.

Women-targeted adaptive measures must receive preference in Green Climate Fund projects. Gender perspectives should be incorporated into relief efforts for climate-driven disaster areas. Packages of food and aid must include the nutrition and medications that pregnant women require. Gender's role in climate change policies and strategies should be highlighted through education and communication strategies.

In the forest industry and clean energy projects, women should have access to employment opportunities. Under "Loss & Damage," separate requests for financial and technical assistance should be made for women who are not treated equally by the effects of climate change.

To find practical solutions to gender inequality and climate disaster insecurity, more grants should be made available for research. To mainstream gender equality, more women should participate in climate change management decision-making.