GENDER AND CLIMATE

CHANGE

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 Introduction
This section is based on the theory of eco-feminism (Vandana Shiva: Francoise
d’Eaubone: Susan Dobscha) which states that women and nature are one. To this end
women tend to suffer more than men in the face of environmental degradation
Eco-feminists blame capitalism and men as the major capitalists for the degradation
of the environment. (capitalist reductionist paradigm)
According to them men are more concerned with capital gains from the environment
whilst women are more concerned with the preservation and conservation of the
environment.
Both women and the environment are oppressed by patriarchal ideals.
The debate on gender and climate change is centered on the concept of vulnerability.
There is need to find out how the effects of climate change can be interrogated from
a gender perspective.

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The Impact of Climate Change on Women
• AGRICULTURE
The debate on gender and climate change is centered on the concept of vulnerability.
There is need to find out how the effects of climate change can be interrogated from
a gender perspective.
It is estimated that cereal crop yield in Sub-Saharan Africa is most likely to decrease
by 50% by 2080 (UNFCCC)
In Zimbabwe rain-fed agriculture production is expected to decrease by 50% by 2020.
From a gender perspective it must be noted that 80% of African women depend on
agriculture as a form of livelihood
In Zimbabwe 70% of women are smallholder famers and depend on rain-fed
agriculture (Madzwamuse 2010)

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The Impact of Climate Change on Women
• WATER SCARCITY
It is estimated that annual rainfall levels in Zimbabweans are expected to decline by 60% by 2080.
River-flow rates are predicted to decrease by 70% by 2050 (Argalawal 2010)
From a gender perspective water scarcity will most likely increase the reproductive role burden of
fetching water and ensuring proper sanitation within the household.
According to Rosen and Vincent (1999) the average woman in Sub Saharan Africa spends 134 minutes
a day fetching water and this is mostly likely to increase sixfold by 2080.
In Zimbabwe women contributed 91% to the task of fetching water for domestic consumption (UNDP,
Gender and Energy Toolkit, 2014)
There is a possible knock - on effect in the sense that there will be an increase in school dropouts for
the girl child because they will spend most of their time fetching water
The other possible knock on effect is exposure to sexual assault. As water becomes more scarce, the
distance covered searching for water become longer. (Mary B Anderson)

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The Impact of Climate Change on Women
• FORESTS
Forests occupy about 21% of land in Africa.
However with climate change there is a steady shift in forestry zones with an
estimated loss of various forest species by up to 70% occurring by 2080
(Holdridge et al 2002). Chanakira and Mugabe have stated that Kwekwe, Chinhoyi
and Chibero and their surroundings have shifted from region 3 to 4.
From a gender perspective women depend on forests and their various resources
to meet their nutritional, health and cultural needs. (non timber products)
Women also depend on forests resources for their economic needs.

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The Impact of Climate Change on Women
• ENERGY
Low water supplies and the destruction of forests will lead to a decrease in energy
supplies.
In Sub-Saharan Africa less than 10% of the rural population has access to electricity
(ADB 2008). 45% of electric power generation in SSA is hydro based (Bates et al,
2008)
Wood, charcoal and dung are the major energy sources – However access to these
traditional biomass energy sources is likely to become more strained due to the
projected increase in population in Africa from 583 million to 823 million by 2050
From a gender perspective the burden of acquiring energy sources will increase on
the part of women.

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The Impact of Climate Change on Women
HEALTH
 As a result of climate change and increases in temperature in particular; the
incidence of malaria, cholera and typhoid is expected to increase. Malaria has
increased Rwandan and Tanzanian highlands as result of temperature increases.
 The possibility of an increase in Rift Valley Fever in Northern Kenya is also
predicted in association with heavy rainfall events.
 From a gender perspective the reproductive role burden of taking care of the sick
on the part of women will increase.
 Just to show the possible burden that might arise as a result of a Cholera
epidemic, the Cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe 2008 affected 100000 people and
killed over 4000 people (GOZ 2010)

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The Impact of Climate Change on Women
MIGRATION
It is estimated that there will be 250 million people displaced in the next 50 years
as a result of drought, and desertification and extreme weather events (10M 2010)
It is argued that men are most likely to migrate to areas where they can undertake
off-farm activities leaving women with the double burden of undertaking
reproductive and productive roles (de-facto household heads).
CONFLICT
As a result of climate change conflict over scarce environmental resources is most
likely to occur. Examples of envionental resource centred conflicts include; Nuba
and Fur (Ethiopia Sudan), Massai and Kikuyu (Kenya).
It must be noted that GBV is what sustains and nurtures conflict.

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The Impact of Climate Change on Women
POVERTY

According to the UNDP (2010) women make up 70% of the world’s poor and poverty is the
underlying cause of vulnerability and the inability to recover from the effects of various hazards
and shocks (Alber 2009); (Brody et al 2008); (Dodman 2010).
• GENDER DISPARITIES IN CLIMATE CHANGE GOVERNANCE & INITIATIVES

Scholars have stated that the climate change debate has largely between elitist in orientation
with women at the bottom of the hierarchy of participation. This means that the voices of women
in decision making when it comes to climate change are silent and this makes them vulnerable.
Current international climate change debate fails to take into account the practical and strategic
needs of women in climate responsive planning.

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The Impact of Climate Change on Women

Scholars like Chagutah (2010) talk about the knock-on effects of

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What can be done?
• It is evident that climate change will have an adverse impact on
women. As development practitioners there is need for us to come up
with strategies to reduce the effect that climate change will have on
women; this is process known as gender responsive programming.

• What measure would you put in place to reduce the impact that
climate change will have on women?

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Questions
1. Climate change is an additional variable of the oppression against
the African women. Do you agree?
2. Do you agree with the notion that the theory of eco-feminism does
not hold water?

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