How does climate impact women?

Mar 18th, 2010 11:57 AM UTC
By Chris Scott

Over at ThePeopleSpeak.org, Elisa Lai makes a really excellent argument that climate change disproportionately affects women. It’s a very clear and compelling point, and one that I frankly don’t see a ton of.

Worth a read when you have a minute:

In most developing countries and most least-developed countries, women often have lower social statuses and have lower accessibility to social/political affairs participation than do men. The same is true in the context of international climate change negotiations, where women’s efforts are often downplayed, and women’s opinions are underweighted. Attention on international climate change negotiations and their agendas is not focused on climate-vulnerable women in the developing world. To reach gender equality and gender justice in terms of climate change issues, the harmonious role many women play in managing natural resources with minimal ecological footprint needs to be recognized and valued more. In order to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts, it is critical for the international community, through women empowerment, to involve women’s participation and reinforce women’s capabilities in the face of climate change disasters.

TAGS: Climate and Development, Women ONE2ONE