Climate change and gender

South African President Jacob Zuma has identified climate change as a critical area of concern. ‘Natural disasters affect women directly and severely because of their social roles and the impacts of poverty. When there are floods, cyclones, or drought, women bear the brunt.’

TASNEEM ESSOP looks at why climate change is a women’s rights issue.IN December, leaders from around the world will gather in Copenhagen to negotiate a new global climate deal. If a fair and effective deal is not reached, the poorest women in developing nations like ours (South Africa) stand to suffer the most. As things stand now it would appear that leaders, especially from industrialised countries, are not putting the needs of the vulnerable and poor on their agenda. They have made very little substantive commitments within the negotiations.We cannot consider climate change as a purely environmental issue. The reality is that it will forever change the socio-economic landscape of our world, the continent and our country if we do not act now. Those with the least options have the least ability to adapt to climate change. Gender-based roles and responsibilities often result in limited options for women because women, as primary caregivers still have a reduced ability to earn a living, have less access to land and natural resources and have less of a voice in decision making.Currently up to two billion people live in extreme poverty worldwide (which means they live on less that US$2 a day). Two-thirds of these are women. The reality is that climate change will worsen existing poverty, particularly in developing nations that are heavily dependent on natural resources. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change the threats to Africa are severe.It is expected that agricultural yields will decrease by 50 per cent by 2050, 75 – 250 million people will be exposed to increased water stress, about 70 million people will face the risk of coastal flooding because of sea level rise by 2080 and there will be a significant increase in health impacts. It is clear that the most vulnerable women will bear the brunt of these impacts. South African women are not immune to these climate change threats.In rural communities women are largely dependent on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihood. Climate change will mean that the supply of natural resources will be threatened. Agriculture may become less viable. As it is, in many regions of South Africa farming activities take place on the edge of survival. Even minor changes to rainfall patterns (especially coupled with increased severity of droughts and floods) threaten food security. Women living in informal settlements are particularly vulnerable to frequent extreme events like flooding. The annual flooding of the informal settlements in the Cape Flats is a case in point.We can play our part by being informed on climate change issues and helping to raise awareness in our communities and workplaces. We need to continuously call on government leaders across the world to reach an agreement on Climate Change in Copenhagen that is fair, equitable, effective and science-based. Governments and Businesses must also begin implementing strategies to significantly limit the Greenhouse Gas emissions in South Africa.A government strategy must address the vulnerabilities of women, especially the poor. We need to demand viable solutions by government such as implementing an immediate, rapid rollout of an ambitious renewable energy programme in the country. Such a programme would have health, employment and energy security benefits.WWF South Africa is advocating for a fair, equitable and effective international agreement to respond to climate change as well as strong domestic action in South Africa. An effective global deal is one that supports developing countries in building resilience to the impacts of climate change and in realising the social and economic benefits of a transition to a low carbon economy. Such a deal would focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency, supporting vulnerable communities and promoting job creation and poverty alleviation.Without definitive action on both the national and international fronts, climate change is set to make the world’s most vulnerable people even more vulnerable.- Tasneem Essop is International Climate Policy Advocate for WWF South Africa.

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