Gender inequality and environmental resilience

December 2018: Gender inequality can have ancillary consequences for climate change and climate resilience. Climate change vulnerability reinforces gender disparities and can lead to higher levels of violence in developing countries.

Information

Gender inequality can have ancillary consequences for climate change and climate resilience. Studies show that climate change increases the risk of activities such as farming and destabilises communities. Communities that rely on fragile environments show high vulnerability to climate extremes that cause crop failures, droughts, or flooding. It is linked to more incidences of domestic violence and general violence against women and girls. Struggles against drought, food shortages, military instability, migration, extreme rainfall, and deforestation compound violence in fragile communities.

Implications and opportunities

Establishing a connection between gender inequality and environmental resilience offers several implications and opportunities. First, empowering women in developing countries could focus on addressing land rights for women and gaining control over farm produce. In light of this, strengthening community capacities in building resilience to the effects of climate change supports men and women to access human, social, natural, economic, and physical resources that in turn could lead to a reduction in carbon emissions in developing countries.

Academic

UN Environment. (2018). Fighting a Silent Battle: The Unspoken War. Retrieved from  https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/fighting-silent-battle-unspoken-war

Eastin, J. (2018). Climate change and gender equality in developing states. World Development, 107, 289–305. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.02.021