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UN report wants gender dimension in climate change debate

*Says women vulnerable climate change in underdeveloped countries
By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Copenhagen summit next month, a UN report has called for the inclusion of human and gender dimensions into the debate on climate change.
The ‘United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) 2009’ report – which was released on Thursday – said women, particularly those in underdeveloped countries, were most vulnerable to climate change.
“They are among the most vulnerable to climate change, partly because in many countries they make up the larger share of the agricultural work force and partly because they tend to have access to fewer income-earning opportunities,” said the report, adding that climate change would not only become a major force for future population movement, probably mostly through internal displacement but also to some extent through international migration.
“Women manage households and care for family members, which often limits their mobility and increases their vulnerability to sudden weather-related natural disasters. Drought and erratic rainfall force women to work harder to secure food, water and energy for their homes,” said the report.
“Girls drop out of school to help their mothers with these tasks. This cycle of deprivation, poverty and inequality undermines the social capital needed to deal effectively with climate change,” said the report.
“Marginalisation of and discrimination against women and the lack of attention to the way gender inequality hampers development, health, equity and overall human well being – all undermine countries’ resilience to climate change,” it said.
Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh – who released the report – said highlighted the importance of women’s development in tackling climate change. He said the landmark Chipko movement of the 1970s that resulted in a number of actions for environment protection was a women’s movement from the social point of view.
“No doubt, India is a country extremely vulnerable to climate change,” he said.
The minister, however, refused to accept any connection between population and climate change.
“Between 1985 and 2005, China had a negative population growth, but during that period, their emissions went up by 40 percent,” he said.
UNFPA representative Nesim Tumkaya said, “As per the 2001 census, approximately 92 million households or 490 million people are dependent on marginal or small farm hoardings. This translates into 60 percent of the rural population. Any change in India’s summer monsoon because of climate change will immediately threaten the livelihoods of these people.”

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