GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...
GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...
GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...
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more vulnerable to damage caused by floods <strong>and</strong> storms, <strong>and</strong> about 30% of the<br />
coastal wetl<strong>and</strong>s may disappear.<br />
Women are involved in the fisheries sector, particularly in processing<br />
fish, preparing for market, small-scale harvesting, activities that are close to the<br />
shore. Due to their focus on activities that are often on the sideline of harvesting,<br />
women’s tasks in relation to fisheries have not been prioritized in economic<br />
analyses or resource investment. Limited access to <strong>and</strong> representation in decision<br />
making has also led to women’s interests not being included in coastal plans<br />
(CIDA, n.d.).<br />
124<br />
4.4.5 Desertification<br />
<strong>Climate</strong> change accelerates the loss of vegetation <strong>and</strong> thus<br />
desertification. As rainy seasons become shorter <strong>and</strong> droughts increase, l<strong>and</strong><br />
erosion <strong>and</strong> infertile soils become the norm. Decreased vegetation cover then<br />
reduces rainfall further through increased evapotranspiration. This cycle that<br />
is exacerbated by climate change also affects rural livelihoods. In addition to<br />
threatening food <strong>and</strong> water security, rural communities are faced with conflicts<br />
over resources <strong>and</strong> may be forced to migrate. In Africa, droughts <strong>and</strong> floods<br />
have become more intense <strong>and</strong> more irregular in recent decades. Droughts<br />
are the most serious cause of food shortages, causing 60% of food emergencies<br />
(GTZ <strong>and</strong> OSS, 2007).<br />
Women’s traditional roles <strong>and</strong> knowledge in natural resource<br />
management <strong>and</strong> agricultural practices are central to preserving food, water<br />
<strong>and</strong> medicines. Yet in dryl<strong>and</strong>s throughout the world, particularly in much of<br />
Africa, women are affected by erosion <strong>and</strong> decreased crop <strong>and</strong> livestock<br />
productivity. A variety of factors contribute to women’s unequal access to<br />
services <strong>and</strong> decision making, including lack of l<strong>and</strong> ownership, illiteracy,<br />
political will <strong>and</strong> gender bias, <strong>and</strong> cultural restrictions.<br />
4.4.6 Health<br />
Most health consequences of climate change will be adverse. It is<br />
estimated that in 2000 alone, climate change was responsible for 2.4% of cases<br />
of diarrhoea worldwide <strong>and</strong> 6% of cases of malaria. In general terms, climate<br />
change will have three types of health repercussions:
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