Understand the overall gender dimensions of climate change in africa sisters of the planet martina uganda video link. As african countries develop climate change policies and programs, it is critical to make gender equitable plans in mitigation and adaptation actions. Gendercc women for climate justice is a global network of organisations, experts and activists working for gender equality, womens rights and climate justice. Gender inequality results from different gender roles what we deem appropriate behaviour for men and women in society.
Gender, climate change and development nexus in africa. Katowice, poland, 10 december, 2018 womens voice is critical, from local to the national, in planning and implementation. Impacts on farming households and gendered response strategies chapter pdf available december 2018. It has therefore become important to understand the interrelations between climate change and gender so as to design effective climate change polices. Nov 25, 2019 today in the journal nature climate change, researchers published an analysis of 25 studies looking at how climate change is imperiling the agency of women in africa and asia. Effects of climate change in africa basic facts on gender equality gender differentiated impacts of climate change need and options for gender sensitive responses to climate change the module first outlines learning objectives and what users are expected to know when the training concludes part ii. Across africa, policy and special initiatives have aimed to incorporate gender inequality in the face of climate change 2. Gender and climate change africa jan 7, 2014 one of the pressing challenges in addressing the gender dimensions of climate change in developing countries is the need for greater national expertise on gender and climate change and on broader issues of sustainable development.
In uganda, femaleheaded households and wives of male farmers are significantly less likely to adopt drought tolerant maize than male farmers, which. Gender dimensions of climate change earth journalism network. Undp, africa adaptation experiences gender and climate change. Evidence shows that the change in temperature has affected the health, livelihoods, food productivity, water availability, and overall security of the african people. This blog was originally posted by the african development bank afdb here. Moreover, adaptation studies as opposed to vulnerability studies tend to address gender issues more. Results confirm that women play an important role in supporting households and communities to cope and adapt to climate. Find out more about the final declaration of the womens and gender constituencies of the cop25 climate change conference in. On the one hand, women are disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which could, in turn, exacerbate existing gender disparities. Ooidentify specific gender based inequalities that contribute towards the disproportionate exposure and vulnerability of women to the effects of climate change, and the role of women as key agents of change in climate responses. Catastrophic storms, of increased frequency and strength, are destroying lives, homes and businesses. Nov 25, 2019 the banks department of gender, women and civil society, as well as its climate change and green growth department, has been mobilizing funding from the climate investment funds cif to strengthen capacity to address the interlinkages between gender and climate change in the work of bank staff and the african cif pilot countries. Africa, which constitutes percent of the global population, contributes the least to greenhouse gas ghg emissions, but bears the brunt of climate change. Climate change is intrinsically linked to poverty, impacting the lives of the worlds poorest people the most.
It is also intrinsically linked to gender, as we know from our work that women and girls are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the climate catastrophe, and all over the world, women and girls are losing their homes as a result. Dorothy amwata, kenya how policy and planning can be better informed by research on the gender dimensions of climate change adaptation dr. Since then, governments have made substantial efforts in developing gender responsive policies and implementation strategies. Around the world, women and girls are on the front line of changing weather patterns disproportionately shouldering the costs and burdens. Gender in climate change, agriculture, and natural resource policies. Build a concrete body of knowledge on gender and climate change in order to promote a greater understanding of the gendered dimensions of climate change.
The worlds poor, the majority of whom are women, are encumbered disproportionately. According to the climate change vulnerability index for 2015, seven of the ten countries. No continent will be struck as severely by the impacts of climate change as africa. The global transformation underway is also increasingly exposing a fundamental yet often hidden factor complicating matters. Similarly, the green climate funds gender policy supports gendersensitive approaches in. Gender and climate change africa policy brief 1 by. 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. Gender and climate change africa policy brief 4 the agriculture sector is predicted to come under substantial stress from climate changeinduced increases in temperature, variability in rainfall and extreme weather events that could trigger crop failures, pest and disease outbreaks, and the degradation of land and water resources. In the context of the significant attention to climate change at global level, debates regarding identification of gender perspectives and the involvement of women in addressing climate change have arisen. The global mean temperature in this region is to increase by 1. Understand the importance of incorporating gender considerations into adaptation responses to climate change 1. Agriculture is essential to the malawian economy and is a key livelihood activity but it is vulnerable to climate change. Climate change therefore magnifies existing inequalities, reinforcing the disparity between women and men in their vulnerability to and capability to cope with climate change.
In 2009, the cedaw committee issued a statement on gender and climate change, expressing concern about the absence of a gender perspective in the united nations framework convention on climate. This paper argues that a binary construction of gender women vs men is likely to overlook the most important challenges of agrarian populations, and may increase vulnerability rather than. Climate change and its effects are not gender neutral. Both men and women have key roles to play in agricul. Overview of linkages between gender and climate change. The link between climate change, gender and development in. In africa, the african union is committed to addressing climate change issues with a gender perspective. Project successes in morocco and ghana offer lessons in. Stocktaking of gender and climate change initiatives in africa.
Gender and climate change capacity development series africa 7 gender, agriculture and food security training module 4 water scarcity, climate change and agriculture benin video link 3. Nov 26, 2019 a mong the lesser studied effects of climate change are the social and economic impacts on women nitya rao, professor of gender and development at university of east anglia has been studying. The 2015 paris agreement recognizes gender equality and womens empowerment as a guiding. We must ensure women are given the skills tools and finance to address the climate change challenge, mafalda duarte, head of the climate investment funds, urged. Climate change is a particular threat to continued economic growth and to livelihoods of vulnerable populations. Dec 12, 2014 right now, the effects of climate change are already being felt by people across africa. The study shows that women in south africa are very knowledgeable and innovative with regards to coping with the impacts of the changing climate. Womxn account for six out of ten of the worlds poorest, and two thirds of the worlds illiterate. An extension activity focused on identifying entry points for integrating research findings on gender and climate change into programs and projects by implementing partners engaged in climate change adaptation projects in africa south of. Gender and climate change africa jan 7, 2014 one of the pressing challenges in addressing the gender dimensions of climate change in developing countries is the need for greater national expertise on gender and climate change. This is evident from current experiences of extreme climatic events such as droughts and floods.
Given its geographical position, the continent will be particularly vulnerable due to the considerably limited adaptive capacity, and exacerbated by widespread poverty. In fact, in 46 of africas nations, women account for at least 40% of agricultural workers. Bridge development gender institute of development studies university of sussex. Gender and climate change in africa facts from gender and climate change. Applying intersectionality to our climate change response. However, for women and girls in particular, many of whom spend a disproportionate amount of time searching for food, fuel and water, or struggling to grow crops the differentiated impact is tremendous. There is a regional differential in the predicted impacts of climate change. Current thinking, new directions, and research frontiers. Increasingly more south africans recognise the seriousness of climate change, and the threats it poses to our survival. Africa is experiencing the impacts of climate change, yet there is wide variation in the capacity of women and men to adequately cope with its effects. Find out more about gendercc and how to get involved.
Consequently, african countries have formulated their respective climate change policies. This is followed by a thematic examination of the key issues related to gender and climate change in africa which include women as consumers, access to land and natural resources, agricultural production and food security, health aspects, security issues and adaptation and mitigation support. This means that the chances of achieving a better life for many women and girls are threatened by a double injustice. A closer look at existing evidence published by the global gender and climate alliance ggca africa is experiencing the impacts of climate change, yet there is wide variation in the capacity of women and men to adequately cope with its effects. The chapter further assesses the importance of integrating and mainstreaming gender into africa s national adaptations plans of actions napas, and intended nationally distributed contributions indcs, and the need for better gender oriented climate change policies, programs and plans. In southern africa, some 12 million people currently face severe food insecurity across nine countries as a result of drought, cyclones, and floods. The advent of climate change and its effects, which have continued to impact rural livelihoods and especially food security, demands. Climate change, gender and development in africa african. Gender and climate change adaptation in agrarian settings. While some correlation is evident between poverty and undernourishment, there is an important variation among countries.
Training module 1 ii objectives oounderstand the overall gender dimensions of climate change in africa. Empowering women on the frontlines of climate change. Climate change is a global challenge that burdens all of humanity, but not equally. Gender in climate change, agriculture, and natural resource. Gender and climate change 1 overview of linkages between. Climate change represents the most complex challenge of our time it requires a concerted, proactive and holistic response.
The recently launched inclusive climate change adaptation for a sustainable africa iccasa project aims to understand and integrate gender in climate change adaptation planning and implementation. The distinct impacts of climate change on men and women are exacerbated in settings that are also affected by violent conflict, political instability, and economic strife. Jan 14, 2020 the global climate crisis is not gender neutral. Understanding the relationship between climate change and gender will support effective climate change adaptation polices and initiatives on the continent. Although the research base is wide and growing every day. Unpacking the gender and climate change nexus in africa. Gender and climate change in africa facts from gender and.
Men and women respond differently to climate change and subsequently also to adaptation measures, which can affect men and women unequally, when the gender perspective is ignored in the policy. A changing climate poses risks for all of humanity. Contextualising and conceptualising gender and climate. It may also restrict options for climate change mitigation. Africas commitment to ensuring gender equality in the face of climate change dr. Global gender and climate alliance africa is experiencing the impacts of climate change, yet there is wide variation in the capacity of women and men to adequately cope with its effects. From sensitivity to responsiveness governments, institutions and agencies are increasingly recognizing the need to mainstream gender into climate change policies and planning, including for adaptation and mitigation. Aug 22, 2018 research, policy, and other initiatives can help close this gap by clearly linking climate change and gender. This brief summarizes research on key gender related findings regarding climate change perceptions, adaptation strategies and information needs based on an intrahousehold survey of women and men in rakai in southcentral uganda, one of the sites where the cgiar research program on climate change, agriculture and food security ccafs is working. Contribute to capacitybuilding initiatives on addressing. Overview of linkages between gender and climate change undp. Development programme undp has developed a series of training modules and policy briefs on gender and. Gender and climate change capacity development series africa. Inclusion of gender in africas climate change policies.
Africas commitment to integrating gender in climate change. West africa has been identified as a climate change hotspot, with climate change likely to lessen crop yields and production, with resultant impacts on food security. Gender and climate change africa gender, climate change and food security 2 policy brief 4 agriculture is central to the livelihoods of women it is now widely acknowledged that climate change impacts will not be gender neutral. How climate change exacerbates gender inequality across the. Gender, climate change, and access to land and agricultural assets as of 2010, only 15% of land in subsaharan africa is managed by women, despite the fact that access to land. Climate change tends to exacerbate existing gender inequalities. Climate change is brutal for everyone, but worse for women. Register for the first webinar series for the inclusive climate change adaptation for a sustainable africa iccasa project on july 12. While women in south africa are represented in the government at national and provincial level, there are not many women in government at a municipal level. Economic brief climate change, gender and development in. Ukafrica summit ignored gender, climate, and poverty. The gender, climate change and nutrition gcan integration initiative supported by usaids feed the future program works with usaid missions and partners to enhance understanding of the linkages between climate, gender, and nutrition to more effectively address gender inequality, improve nutrition outcomes, and increase climate resilience. May 22, 2019 gender mainstreaming was acknowledged as an indispensable strategy for achieving gender equality at the 1995 beijing platform for action. Gender mainstreaming was acknowledged as an indispensable strategy for achieving gender equality at the 1995 beijing platform for action.
Lessons can be drawn from their knowledge on how women can be better assisted to adapt to climate change. The previous section highlighted the importance of agricultural and environment based livelihoods to africas economic development, and in particular the major. Adaptation, mitigation and governance challenges tional climate change negotiations can be remedied by concerted action on the part of african leaders in the copenhagen round of negotiations. Afdb climate change, gender and development in africa. Inform national policies and regional initiatives on how to address the gendered dimensions of climate change in africa. By 2020, it is projected that yields from rainfed agriculture in some countries could be reduced by up to 50 percent. Women, gender equality and biodiversity in the context of climate change according to the millennium ecosystem assessment, climate change is likely to. Although the research base is wide and growing every day, this fact sheet centers on a select group of themes in literature around gender and climate change in africa, including agriculture, forests, water scarcity, migration, and food.
World bank, social dimensions of climate change, 2010. Africas commitment to integrating gender in climate. With particular attention to south africa, this study aims to examine the interrelations between climate change and gender so as to make a contribution to the existing information gap on the. Gender and climate change in africa facts from gender. Gender and climate change capacity development series. Jan 07, 2014 gender and climate change africa jan 7, 2014 one of the pressing challenges in addressing the gender dimensions of climate change in developing countries is the need for greater national expertise on gender and climate change and on broader issues of sustainable development. The advent of climate change and its effects, which have continued to impact rural livelihoods. These impacts are likely to be felt more acutely at the individual level, as agriculture is the mainstay of 70 percent of the continents 1 billion. This is the first webinar series for the inclusive climate change adaptation for a sustainable africa iccasa project. Gender and climate change 4 gender, agriculture and food. Sea level rise have put lowlying areas and island nations at risk.
Gender in climate change, agriculture, and natural. The drought that currently affects the western and eastern cape provinces and the scarcity of water that plagues south africa, generally is a consequence of mixed variables that include manmade climate change, i. Women, more than men, are exposed to environment linked. Due to its high climate variability and rainfed agriculture, central africa is expected to experience longer and more frequent heatwaves as well as an increase in wet extremes. Across africa, the changing climate adversely impacts the lives and livelihoods of women, men, and their families. Gender inequality may dramatically limit the resilience and adaptive capacity of women, families and communities. Climate change adaptation in africa ccaa le programme. Due to gender based roles in society, and the inequities caused by them, the climate affects women, men, and the young differently, resulting in various levels of vulnerability. It documents evidence for gender differences in health risks that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change, and in adaptation and mitigation measures that can help to protect and promote health. Applying intersectionality to our climate change response ijr. Central africa, for the most part, is landlocked and is geographically threatened by climate change. The african union gender policy and forthcoming climate change strategy, together present an opportunity to ensure that implementation of the paris agreement in africa contributes to gender equality. As climate change worsens in developing countries, threatening in particular the livelihoods of families heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture, women around the world can expect to face even greater hurdles in achieving sufficient education, greater economic opportunities, and gender equality. Gender, health and climate change it has been widely recognised that the rising water levels associated with climate change will lead to an increase in water borne diseases.