Women have access to fewer resources than men do, which makes it harder for them to adapt to climate change. They also rely on natural resources that are being affected by climate change more than men do.

Resilient livelihoods for adapting to and mitigating climate change include:

• adaptive agriculture
• reforestation
• green energy generation
• waste management
• water conservation

Adaptive agriculture

Adaptive, climate-smart farming helps farmers grow food even when the weather changes.

Adaptive agriculture uses a variety of methods:

• Use drought-resistant crops to ensure that crops survive when there is not enough rain.
• Use water-saving irrigation techniques to conserve water.
• Plant trees to improve soil quality and reduce erosion.
• Use crop rotation to reduce the risk of pests and diseases.
• Use organic farming practices to improve soil health and reduce the use of pesticides and fertilisers.

Reading

Hafiza, S., & Neelormi, S. (2015, 21 November). Climate resilient and empowering livelihoods for women. UN Women. https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2016/01/climate-resilient-and-empowering-livelihoods-for-women

Licence: Open access

Reforestation

Reforestation is the practice of planting trees in areas where forests have been cut down. It is important to do this because trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, which helps to fight climate change. Reforestation can also help to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and provide homes for animals.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy comes from sources that can be refilled or replenished — for example, solar energy, wind energy and biogas. It:

• provides clean and reliable energy to communities that do not have access to electricity,
• does not create pollution that causes climate change,
• provides energy that does not deplete natural resources,
• supports conservation efforts, and
• can create new jobs for women — for example, women can be employed to maintain or clean solar panels.

Waste management

Women are often responsible for a significant portion of household waste disposal and so they play a vital role in waste management at the community level.

For example, women in Bangladesh are helping to keep their communities clean by collecting and recycling waste. Waste Concern is a group that trains women to do this work and to start their own businesses in this area. So, it helps not only to reduce waste pollution but also to create jobs for women.

Water conservation

Communities can adapt to climate change by increasing their water security and resilience through water conservation. For example, harvesting rainwater can help to create a source of water during droughts, and reusing grey water can reduce water consumption. Water-efficient irrigation practices can also help to reduce water consumption and improve crop yields, even in areas with limited water resources.

Activity

Can you identify similar efforts in your community to those described above and write about them in your journal or blog?

Reading

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (December 01, 2015). Climate change and food security: Risks and responses. https://www.fao.org/3/i5188e/I5188E.pdf

Licence: Open access/Public domain

De Alwis, A. A. P., & International Water Management Institute. (2012). A Tool for sustainability: A case for biogas in Sri Lanka. Journal of Tropical Forestry and Environment, 2(1): 1-9. https://journals.sjp.ac.lk/index.php/JTFE/article/download/564/143/650

Licence: Open access/Public domain

Case study

Taking steps towards drought resilience

Mann Deshi Foundation is an organisation run by women to help women in India.

Mann Taluk had been in drought for five years, so Mann Deshi Foundation started “cattle camps” to give food and water to the animals. This helped both the animals and the people who own them. Women took care of the animals in the camps by processing and providing fodder, water and maintaining the animals, which in turn protected their income source. This is a good example of how to help people and animals during a drought.

Photographs: De, K. (2012, September).