Gender differentiated climate change discourse in rural communities in developing countries

Abstract

The discourse on climate change should provide adequate attention to gender differentiated roles and vunerability, either at the local community level and international climate change negotiations because the impact of climate change affects women and men differently. There is a missing link to scientific assessment of climate change and responses to climate through a gender dimension and the policies enacted to mitigate and adapt to its impacts. Currently, there is insufficient knowledge regarding gender differentiated impacts of climate change worldover. However, there has been a consensus that in trying to understand climate change in general, we need to appreciate gender and gender relations. The discussion explores the gender dimension of climate change and the policies enacted to mitigate and adapt to its impacts with the aim of developing gender sensitive approaches with regards to mitigation measures and adaptation strategies in rural communities in developing countrie. Women and men in most developing countries are especially vulnerable to climate when they are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood. It is important to remember, however, that both men and women are not only vulnerable to climate change but they are also effective actors or agents of change in relation to both mitigation and adaptation. The relationship between women and the environment revolves around their concerns for providing family food security, fuel, water, and health care. As climate change research knowledge is accumulating at a remarkable pace, it is intersecting with disasters regarding developing nations in fascinating ways. Yet, there remains a significant gap in integrated quantitative and qualitative methods for studying climate change perception and policy support in rural communities. Men and women extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of the environment and resource conservation should be given due consideration. Their potential contribution to climate mitigation by being part of the intervention strategy should be sufficiently exploited.