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

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At the national level, the
picture is similar. The integration of
women is most likely to succeed at the
regional and local levels, but even here,
it is the exception rather than the rule. In
this respect, there is a need to conduct
actions that will empower women to
get involved in decision-making
processes (i.e., training on climate
change, access to information,
invitation to participate in national
discussion).
Actions associated with
mitigation are grouped into two areas:
reducing GHG emissions; and carbon
capture, fixing and sequestration. In
each of these cases the solutions or
initiatives are different in developed
and developing countries and,
consequently, so is the way in which
gender considerations are articulated.
Box 1 Linking adaptation and
mitigation agendas
Effective linking of the mitigation and
adaptation agendas should fit the
best-practice/no-regrets approach
– i.e., actions will reduce emissions
while helping countries/regions/
communities to adapt to climate
change through the use of best
practices (including technology and
know-how). Projects that effectively
address conservation, sustainable
livelihoods and natural resource
management (e.g., community
forestry, pastoralism) will fit this
description and create benefits on
both sides. Decentralized renewable
energy in rural areas also contributes
both to mitigation and adaptation.
We can expect to see a lot of activity
in these areas in the next decade.
Source: Drexhage, 2006.
Given their historic responsibility and differentiated economic
development, mitigation actions are generally taken in developed countries and
adaptation actions in less developed countries, with some notable exceptions.
However, it is important to link these two aspects to confront the effects of
climate change, as well as to relate them to combating poverty which is often
the priority of least developed countries.
Fortunately, many elements of the necessary transformation can be
accomplished in ways that contribute to broad development goals as well; for
example, providing clean energy to women also improves local environmental
quality. Approached in this way, the challenge becomes a less narrow and
costly pursuit of environmental protection, and a broader effort to re-orient our
societies and economies toward a sustainable development path.