The impacts of climate change on humanity are becoming more and more evident with the increase in the frequency, occurrence and distribution of climate related catastrophic events. Sadly, these impacts have not been equally distributed across populations in the world as some are more vulnerable and susceptible to these impacts than others. Women and poor communities have been on the receiving end at most due to dependency on natural resources as well as limited adaptive capacity to adapt to climate induced stresses. Women are more at risk as compared to their male counterparts.
Climate change has further increased inequalities and exacerbated gender inequalities due its effects which are not gender sensitive or selective. Societal roles played by women at both household and community levels has placed women at a greater risk of facing larger burdens of the impacts of climate change. This is mostly because they depend more on natural resources and activities which are sensitive to climate variability for their livelihoods. Lack of education of marginalised women has also contributed to women being more vulnerable than men.
Impacts of climate change include droughts, water scarcity, flooding, storms, pests and diseases, increased temperatures among others. Water scarcity is increasingly becoming one of the leading global challenges being faced as a result of climate induced droughts affecting women in both rural and urban areas in Southern Africa. The search for the precious resource has also seen the increase in human rights violations against women and girls who have become more vulnerable to abuse. The dire situation has seen the normalisation of young women and girls going to fetch water late at night and some going as far as selling their bodies just to get their hands on this precious liquid.
Women participating in the decision making process have been very limited when it comes to Climate Change policy planning and formulation. This is why women continue to suffer greatly from climate change impacts because of being left out on policies which affect them on a daily basis. Climate change response should be inclusive to all and the inclusion of women in decision making processes promotes gender equality through gender-based vulnerability assessments. Women understand the impacts of climate change better than men through the interactions of their societal roles to the environment and nature.
The response to the impacts of climate change requires a gender sensitive approach which is inclusive and fair especially to the most vulnerable members of society. A balance between climate change and gender equality should be struck if gender based vulnerability assessments inform policy formulation. Women have practical skills and advanced knowledge in climate change response and therefore they play a crucial role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. This has been observed in the management of natural resources were women have been exemplary and pioneering in the sustainable utilisation and harvesting of these resources. If such an approach is also adopted in the fight against climate change the goal of creating climate resilient communities can be achieved sooner than expected.
