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October 2005
Updated May 2006
Gender: The missing component
in the response to climate change
by Yianna Lambrou
and Grazia Piana
Gender and Development Service
FAO Gender and Development Division
This report analyses the gender dimension of climate change and of the policies enacted to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change with the aim of developing gender-sensitive approaches with regards to mitigation measures, adaptation projects and national regimes. The study represents, on the one hand, the scientific assessment of climate change, with its impact and associated effects on human and natural systems; and on the other hand, the international response to this challenge. The findings show that gender aspects have generally been neglected in international climate policy.
Given this reality, the need to find new ways for integrating the gender variable into international negotiations for the second and subsequent commitment periods – and into national regimes for mitigation and adaptation – is urgent. In reviewing gender aspects in natural disaster management and development cooperation, it is clear that enough experience has accumulated to offer good suggestions for the development of policies to address the gender variable in climage change as well. The message is clear: while women are generally more vulnerable to the impact of climate change, in many cases they exhibit surprising resilience. Moreover, their responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions is relatively lower than men’s (as some early data have shown), but the differences narrow with increasing equality of opportunity. The challenge is to elaborate gender-sensitive responses modelled on the needs, aspirations, knowledge and capabilities of individuals who are actively involved as crucial partners in these efforts.
Click here to view the document (PDF, 302k).
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