Often a commonly overlooked factor, but one that is vital in the road to finding a solution,
Climate change poses a great challenge to marginalized and vulnerable groups all around
the world. Backed by data and analytics, it has been proven time and again that women, like
in many situations, are the ones that suffer the most from this ongoing crisis. However, almost
all non profit groups and foundations tend to ignore this connection in their fight to close the
gender gaps in economically challenged countries. Nevertheless, Climate change and gender
inequality are tied by intricate strings, and perhaps the solution to one or both problems can
be found by exploring these connections.
Climate change, often referred to as a “threat multiplier” affects the lives of low income girls and women, who often have to support their whole families. In many countries, women are in charge of securing food, fuel and water whilst taking care of big families. Not having a stipend to rely on, many of these women turn to agriculture and what little money they can make from it. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, women produce up to 80% of food in developing countries. However, agriculture is not a reliable source of income as it is affected by external factors such as drought, rainfall and plagues, many of which are caused by climate change. Families face harsh times with no viable solutions, and often girls have to drop out of school to help support their families. The World Bank estimates that around 122 million girls worldwide are not enrolled in schooling, and whilst enrollment rates are almost the same for boys and girls (92% and 90% accordingly), completion rates for girls are much lower than boys in low income countries. This, of course, will affect girls’ lifes tremendously, leaving them even more vulnerable to child marriage, a horrible and common situation with 28 girls worldwide every minute being victim to these practices; moreover it increases the possibilities of human trafficking, sexual abuse, and with almost no possibility of securing a steady job later on in their lives.
Likewise, the climate change crisis escalates social, political and economical tensions, in already precarious communities. As climate change continues to pave divides and cause conflicts worldwide, women and girls continue to face increased vulnerabilities of all forms of gender-based violence. Climate change and disasters also affects women’s health directly, as it limits access to healthcare centers and reduces mobility. An already long journey to a small clinic is made impossible after climate disasters impact the community. Research has also indicated that the extreme heat waves caused by climate change increases chances of stillbirth, which poses a great risk to mothers that have no access to trained professionals and sterilized settings. Additionally, climate change escalates the spread of vector-borne diseases and illnesses such as malaria, dengue and the Zika virus which greatly affect maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Nevertheless, even after countless studies and researches, humanitarian programmes still opt to continue treating these crises in completely different ways. They adapt houses with solar panels, sell hybrid cars, and educate girls in low income countries about the effects of marrying young. Of course these are all viable and efficient solutions that should continue to be implemented and taken into account, but there are still gaps in the realization of the connection between climate change and gender inequality. A problem with this magnitude that encompasses social and environmental dimensions should be tackled as it is, a never ending cycle that endangers those that are already the most vulnerable. Viable solutions can include promoting decision-making on women, training them on climate planning and instructing them on what to do should a crisis hit. More complex and expensive solutions consist of improving renewable energy sources and technologies in vulnerable communities which would greatly reduce the time women spent on traditional fuel collection.
In conclusion many more solutions can be found and implemented to solve these problems as a whole, rather than treating them as separate issues. Applying these solutions into practice will greatly improve women and girl’s quality of life in marginalized communities, and if executed in a long term manner may reduce the effects of climate change worldwide.
Bibliographical List:
https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/1634537/
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/girlseducation
