STATE OF GENDER EQUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH ASIA AND THE HKH REGION
1st October, 2022
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According to the State of Gender Equality and Climate Change in South Asia and the HKH Region report “Governments of South Asia and the Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH) regions have not done much to address the impact of climate change on women”.
The report covered 10 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The report highlighted that India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to manage climate change recognised the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment. But it does not suggest any measures.
The National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC), 2008 recognised that women are more vulnerable to climate change but lack noticeable gender and social inclusion measures.
Some of the national plans — Bhutan’s Climate Change Policy 2020, Nepal’s National Adaptation Plan 2021, and Pakistan’s National Climate Change Policy 2021 were gender-responsive and considered gender-specific needs.
The report mentioned that Climate change is also widening the gender gap and worsening existing social inequalities.
China, India, Nepal and Pakistan are witnessing climate change-induced migrations of men for better livelihood options and employment.
When men migrate, they leave behind women, children and the elderly.
This adds more workload to the female population.
The report suggested;
Gender equality and social inclusion.
Monitoring and evaluating interventions in the agriculture, energy and water sectors.
Guaranteeing the meaningful participation of women and marginalised groups in policy dialogues.
Governments need to evaluate implemented policies regularly.
Women and Climate change
Men and women use environmental resources differently and are impacted differently when faced with environmental degradation and natural disasters.
Women generally face Shortages of environmental services: Drinking water, Cooking fuel, and Safe waste disposal which impact women directly.
Steps need to be taken to minimize the negative impact of climate change on women;
Adopt an environment‐centred growth model and Integrate women’s empowerment with Sustainable development.
Government need to design policies to enable women to own, control and access a variety of economically productive assets including land, livestock, forests, leases on common land and water bodies.
At all stages in disaster management, there should be special policies and programmes for women.
Environmental planning and impact assessments should integrate gender issues, Gender Impact Assessment should therefore be part of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
