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UNIFEM has 13 research areas that are constantly being added to and updated. If you would like to find articles related to a certain topic, use the search box below or choose an area from the menu to the left
Gender and Climate Change
Women in many developing countries are responsible for climatically sensitive tasks such as securing food, water and energy which ensure the food security and well-being of a household. The effects of climate change – droughts, floods, coastal erosion, sea level rise and rising temperatures – will put greater pressure on women to shoulder the adverse consequences on the household.Women often have unequal access to information and resources, and are under-represented in decision-making which makes them even more vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather events. Despite women’s vulnerabilities, women’s knowledge and social practices could be used to build community resilience if women were included in adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Yet the impacts of climate change on women are not a mainstream focus in the key international agreements on climate change such as the Kyoto Protocol and the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change). All key decision-making institutions related to climate change have a male-dominated hierarchal structure (Aguilar 2007).
In our region the impact of climate change on women is of particular significance. Pacific Island Nations are extremely vulnerable to climate change. Climatic conditions and extreme events - droughts, floods, sea level rise and coastal erosion, rising temperatures - will hurt food security and the well-being of Pacific Islanders, with women baring the brunt of the impact due to the responsibility held by women with Pacific communities in relation to food security and the well-being of a household.
For more Information on Gender and Climate Change, please see the resources below
Gender and Climate Change Factsheet
Learn more about the effects of climate change on women and the importance of ensuring women are included in discussions on climate change.(11795 KB)
Gender and Climate Change in the Pacific Factsheet
Read more about the impacts of climate change in the Pacific, specifically focussing on the impact on Pacific women.(11894 KB)
Women, Climate Change and Refugees
Read more about the impact of climate change on women and its relevance to refugees.(10977 KB)