Introduction
Climate change is a broad term that encompasses long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns. These variations could be natural, as a result of variations in the solar cycle, for example. However, human activities have been the primary cause of climate change since the 1800s, owing mostly to the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas.
Many people believe that the primary effect of global warming is an increase in average temperatures. The rise in temperature is merely the beginning of the story. A little variation in one part of the Earth's ecosystem can have a ripple effect throughout the entire planet's system.
We can pay the bill now, or pay dearly in the future~UN
Impact:
Intense droughts, water scarcity, devastating wildfires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms, and a decline in biodiversity are just some of the effects of climate change we're seeing now.
Climate change can have a negative impact on our health, ability to grow food, housing, safety, and job. Small island nations and other underdeveloped countries already have a higher vulnerability to the effects of climate change than the rest of us. Whole villages have been forced to evacuate due to sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion, and prolonged droughts are placing people at risk of starvation. The number of "climate refugees" is predicted to increase in the near future.
Are Women the worst sufferers?
Due to the fact that they make up the majority of those living in poverty and are more reliant on natural resources endangered by climate change, women are more at risk than males in many of these situations. It is also difficult for them to cope because of social, economic, and political barriers that they must cope with. It is particularly dangerous for women and men living in rural areas in underdeveloped countries to rely on local natural resources for their survival. Securing water, food, and fuel for cooking and warmth is one of the most difficult tasks. The lack of mobility of women in rural areas, coupled with unequal access to resources and to decision-making processes, puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to climate change. As a result of climate change, the availability of freshwater for both home and commercial purposes is significantly reduced. Droughts and floods have far-reaching effects, especially on vulnerable populations such as women who are in charge of water management in the home. To meet their families' water needs, women and girls in poor countries frequently travel long distances to get water from distant sources. Women and girls bear the brunt of the burden of poor sanitation because of the lack of access to clean water in their communities.
As the environment continues to deteriorate, human migration, both within countries and across borders, is projected to increase in the coming decades. Human movement means that more people are being displaced by extreme coastal weather events, coastline erosion, coastal flooding, droughts, and agricultural damage. Lack of mobility aggravates the issue.
“We are either going to have a future where women lead the way to make peace with the Earth or we are not going to have a human future at all.” —Vandana Shiva
Way-forward:
Though they may be more at risk from climate change, women play a vital role in both mitigating it and adapting to it, and this should not be overlooked. Climate change mitigation, disaster reduction, and adaptation measures benefit greatly from the experience and competence of women. In addition, women's roles in the home and community as natural and household resource stewards, position them well to assist in the development of livelihood strategies that are more responsive to the changing environmental landscape.
Gender-sensitive responses to the environmental and humanitarian issues brought on by climate change are therefore critical. If we are able to create sensitivity and awareness we are halfway through.
In order to establish climate change mitigation activities, it is necessary to consider gender inequalities in access to resources including loans, extension services, and information and technology. As part of their efforts to combat climate change, women must have equitable access to training, credit, and skill-development programmes, as well.
Governments should be encouraged to incorporate gender perspectives into their national policies on sustainable development and climate change by conducting systematic gender analysis; collecting and utilising sex-disaggregated data; establishing gender-sensitive benchmarks and indicators, and developing practical tools to support increased awareness of gender perspectives.'
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