Climate change and gender: economic empowerment of women through climate mitigation and adaptation?

The discourse on climate change does not pay adequate attention to women, either at the local project level or in international negotiations.

Women are unable to voice their specific requirements even though the impact of climate change affects women and men differently. In several rural areas of the South, although women are responsible for feeding their families and are therefore more dependent on natural resources such as land, wood and water, their access to these resources is limited. They are also denied full access to loans, education and information.

Second, the potential of women as agents of change for climate mitigation and adaptation remains untapped:
Their extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of the environment and resource conservation is not given due consideration.

In terms of economic participation, they are not paid for the environmental services that they already provide (e.g., reforestation). Their potential con- tribution to climate mitigation by being part of the economic cycle is not sufficiently exploited.

There are, however, several ways of promoting women’s economic partic- ipation while also counteracting climate change. One approach in the field of climate mitigation is the promotion of renewable energies that help avoid greenhouse gas emissions. Not only are jobs created for women who can be engaged in the upkeep and maintenance of solar plants, but solar-powered lamps also extend the productive time available to street vendors. Additionally, pilot experiences in climate adaptation have shown that women, given their vast knowledge, are able to develop and dissemi- nate innovative cultivation methods that are adapted to climate change.