The worldwide issue of climate change has significant effects on environmental factors, economic systems, and social networks. The impacts of climate change fall heavily on women belonging to vulnerable communities, who endure an unequal share of adverse effects. These problems intensify because of structural inequalities alongside gender-based disadvantages, so an analysis of gender equality and climate action becomes necessary. Women, especially those in developing countries, have to bear the most severe consequences of climate change because society gives them minimal power coupled with financial disadvantages and resource inequality.
Women in developing countries have to bear the most severe consequences of climate change because society gives them minimal power.
Women in developing countries prevent climate adaptation through obstacles that limit their access to land properties and credit services and restrict their use of technological equipment. Gender-neutral work policies block affected women from seeking freedom from abusive relationships while their combined economic and environmental risks remain out of reach. The Pakistani population assigns household water management duties exclusively to women, who receive almost no support from men as climate conditions disintegrate.
Throughout history, women have proved their essential importance as environmental activists. During the Chipko Movement in India, women displayed their leadership in forest conservation, and through the Green Belt Movement, they received training to plant millions of trees. When given an appropriate social foundation and applicable backing, women can generate extensive environmental transformation.
Through clean energy initiatives, women entrepreneurs are now defining solar-powered electrification projects for rural areas, which proves that women create powerful ecological change. It is noteworthy that women in Pakistan have also been actively promoting environmental sources. Regarding the Billion Tree Tsunami project, women also actively participated in the afforestation activities. Some women-led programs in Sindh and Balochistan include sustainable agriculture and water management.
Some challenges women face in climate change do not hinder them from participating in activities geared towards combating climate change. Based on their roles and responsibilities with food production, resources, and authority in local governments, women are in the correct position to chart for successful climate change plans. Female employees account for 43% of agriculture employees globally while still being charged with food production and preservation mandates.
Gender-neutral work policies block affected women from seeking freedom from abusive relationships.
Despite the vulnerability of agriculture yields to climate change, women farmers are more adaptive to climate change by practicing crop and soil diversification, agroforestry systems, and water conservation. The limitations placed on woman from being able to own land, as well as obtain loans, limit their ability to implement solutions to climate change properly.
This is because women make a critical contribution towards climate adaptation, while the faculty of gender placed on them hinders their productivity. Many nations restrict women from acquiring land while denying them credit and technology for accessing land due to legal and cultural reasons. Lack of land ownership deprives women of the opportunity to develop sustainable adaptation measures such as planting trees and undertaking soil conservation.
For women to be effectively involved in climate action, such aspects leading to legal inequalities must be addressed. This pertains to the gross missing of women in policy and decision-making, climate change discussions and governance, and leadership. Despite this, Women’s Expert climate adaptation knowledge does not guarantee their involvement in national or international policy-making in matters concerning climate. This will lead to a better representation of all parties and endorse the inclusion of more women in leadership, thus creating efficient climate governance.
Abbasi et al. (2019) find that social and cultural barriers prevent women from engaging in climate adaptation measures. These barriers restrict women’s movements and deny them complete freedom, as patriarchal norms bind them. The imposed restrictions limit women’s access to climate information and their involvement in decision-making processes.
Women farmers are more adaptive to climate change by practicing crop and soil diversification, agroforestry systems, and water conservation.
When such programs are well developed in the community to challenge the gender rules of the game and strengthen women’s leadership capacity, such barriers will be surmounted. Caregiving responsibilities assigned to women mean they experience higher responsibility levels during climate disasters.
Academic institutions, International agencies, and civil society organizations need time to encourage women’s policies for more effective participation in climate change adaptation. As for the regulation, it is essential to establish the same conditions for women and men within the use of land property and access to financial services. Women should be provided with secure land tenure systems because they improve appropriate and sustainable land use and proper farming methods in the changing climate.
Women’s expert climate adaptation knowledge does not guarantee their involvement in national or international policy-making.
Gender must be mainstreamed into climate adaptation policies to show women’s requirements and contributions concerning vulnerability. Women-related adaptation projects and specialist development programs for women comprise different investments in the initiative. The governments and international organizations in climate negotiation platforms, environmental management entities, and power structures should improve the status of women.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
