ISSUE

• The threat of climate change, manifested in the increase of extreme weather conditions such as, droughts, storms or floods, has been recognized as a global priority issue and has broad disparities existing among regions, between different generations, income groups and occupations as well as between women and men.

• Women in rural areas in developing countries are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood, because of their responsibility to secure water, food and energy for cooking and heating. The climate change and its effects thus, make it difficult for women to secure these resources.

More women die than men during natural disasters

• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Study: In a natural disaster, women and children are 14 times more likely to die than men and the reason is cultural norms. For example, in the 2004 tsunami in Asia, more than 70% of the dead were women.

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has noted that in Sri Lanka, men survived the tsunami more easily than women:

1. Men are taught life-saving skills like swimming and climbing trees while women’s role stays restricted as a perfect home-maker

2.  Taking care of others: The food and relief material are directed more towards men with women also supporting the move (Compassion & care)

3. Rate of death of women increases with the severity of the disaster as a study exhibits the reduction in the normal life expectancy of a woman

4. Alternate explanation: More men might die owing to the fact that they do take up more risks during disasters (Trait of a saviour)

Water stress impacts women more adversely

• Climate change leads to droughts and water scarcity, adversely affecting women’s physical and emotional wellness.

• Burden of water collection and firewood collection largely falls on them: Finding and fetching water can consume up to 85% of a woman’s daily energy intake.

• Drought: Search for water takes a toll not only on the time and health but also on their psychological well-being

Climate change increases health risks for women

• Women and children are more vulnerable to the health effects of climate change

• Data for 2000 and 2012 from South-east Asia: The diarrhoeal diseases killed more women than men (common during instances of flooding)

Way Ahead:

•  A gender analysis needs to be applied to all actions on climate change and the gender experts should be consulted in climate change processes at all levels, so that women's and men’s specific needs and priorities are identified and addressed.

• Women around the world must adapt their lives to a changing climate depending upon the regional variations and availability of resources. Vulnerabilities need to be tamed with the help of behavioural changes and more changes on a personal as well as on an individual level.

• Women need to be made in control of their required resources as they possess a strong body of over-the-years traditional and environmental knowledge while helping, collecting and managing resources, and raising their families