GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...

MDG 3:
Promote gender
equality and empower
women
Increases deaths and
injuries where
inequality exists
Exacerbates existing
gender inequalities
Inhibits political,
economic and social
empowerment
A 2006 study of 141 natural disasters by the
London School of Economics found that when
economic and social rights are fulfilled for both sexes,
the same number of women and men die in disasters.
On the contrary, when women do not enjoy economic
and social rights equal to men, more women than men
die in disasters. This gender discrepancy has come
to light in a range of major disasters, including Hurricane
Mitch, Hurricane Katrina, and other storms in the
Americas; European heat waves; and cyclones in South
Asia.
In some Latin American countries, due to the social
behaviour assigned to men, in disaster situations, men
tend to take extreme risks during natural events under
what is call the “superman syndrome.” This has caused
unnecessary deaths, i.e., crossing rivers with strong
currents.
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When swift environmental changes arise, existing
inequalities are magnified and traditional gender roles
are reinforced. Historic disadvantages, including
restricted access to land, resources, information, and
decision making, result in heavier burdens for women
during and after natural disasters.
Women in developing countries are still largely
responsible for securing food, water and energy for
cooking and heating. Drought, desertification, and
erratic rainfall result in women having to work even
harder to secure these resources, leaving them with less
time to earn income, get an education, or provide care
to their families.
Lack of representatives and women’s participation
in the decision-making spheres related to climate
change at all levels (local, national and international)
result in the absence of gender-responsive policies and
programmes.
MDG 4:
Reduce child
mortality
Environmental
effects can
aggravate the risk
of contracting
serious illnesses
Increase in women’s workload due to their role as
primary carers in the family. i.e., time spent on caring for
children and the sick.
Loss of medicinal plants used by women.
Instruments and techniques / Module 3