GENDER DIMENSIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE SALMA BANO

Women play a pivotal role in natural resources management and in other productive and reproductive activities at the household and community levels. This puts them in a position to contribute to livelihood strategies adapted to changing environmental realities. Greater female participation in economic development will lead to productivity gains. Research has also revealed the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment to environmental sustainability and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Women in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change because they are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood. Women charged with securing water, food and fuel for cooking and heating face the greatest challenges. Women experience unequal access to resources and decision-making processes, with limited mobility in rural areas. It is thus important to identify gender-sensitive strategies that respond to these crises for women.Many developing countries are especially vulnerable to climate effects because of poverty, conflicts, lack of gender and social equality, environmental degradation and lack of food.