Introductory video

The video Climate Change & Gender by the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) highlights the work of the UNDP and gives examples of women-centred practices that can help to mitigate the impacts of climate change — for example, giving women access to information and water resources, and training in agro-processing and building cookstoves and solar power units.

Why gender equality is essential for climate change mitigation

Women make up nearly half of the agricultural labour force in developing countries, but they tend to have smaller holdings and to produce less. Gender is an important factor in mitigating climate change and its effects and developing resiliency because women:

• do not have the same types of jobs as men in and outside the household,
• do not have the same access to resources as men, and
• do not always have the same status in communities as men.

Due to their expected roles and responsibilities, these women experience increased workloads and reduced income because of climate change. They are therefore more vulnerable because they are likely to suffer more from the effects of climate change. Solutions to climate change or mitigation actions must acknowledge the needs of women (and other vulnerable people such as people with disabilities, the elderly and the very young).

When women and other vulnerable people are supported and given greater access to resources, they can increase their production. This in turn can help to reduce hunger, enhance nutrition and contribute to food security. Gender equality is important for improving both women’s resilience and the community’s resilience to climate change.

Gender equality is possible when women receive equal opportunities as follows:

• equal opportunities to access the necessary information and best practices on climate change mitigation that are timely and relevant to their situations
• equal opportunities to make decisions about climate change mitigation strategies for themselves and others
• equal opportunities to own and control assets and resources that they can use in their homes, farms and communities to mitigate climate change

Together these opportunities contribute to women’s empowerment and will have a positive impact on economic growth and climate change mitigation, which is a major part of sustainable development.

Activity

Replay the introductory video. Think about which of UNDP’s mitigation actions could be taken in your community. Alternatively, the facilitator may ask participants to discuss which of the actions would be appropriate in your community. The actions were:

• involving women as stakeholders and planners
• providing access to and control of resources, including water
• providing access to information about the climate
• training in climate-resistant farming practices, new harvesting techniques and new production and processing techniques
• training in the construction of newer, cleaner, more efficient stoves; solar grids; and reservoirs and river embankments