Overview of linkages between gender and climate change

Box 4: Definitions of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity
Exposure: The nature and degree to which
a system is exposed to significant climatic variations.
Sensitivity: The degree to which a system is affected, either adversely or
beneficially, by climate-related stimuli. The effect may be direct (e.g., a change in crop
yield in response to a change in the mean, range, or variability of temperature) or indirect
(e.g., damages caused by an increase in the frequency of coastal flooding due to a rise in
the sea level).
Adaptive capacity: The ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including
climate variability and extremes), to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of
opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.
Source: IPCC (2007 WGII Glossary).
9A. Adaptation planning: “Adaptation involves changes in lifestyle,
behaviour, and risk management and can include actions such as changing the
mix of crops, plant varieties, livestock and fish species; modifying irrigation
and flood control systems; implementing pest and disease management
programmes; expanding health systems; developing infrastructure; climateproofing
domiciles, communities and capital stock against the ravages of
extreme weather events; and relocation and migration” (UNDP 2011a).
Adaptation initiatives that do not take gender perspectives into account may
unintentionally reinforce existing gender inequalities. For example, diverting
fresh water to areas where there is a water shortage (dikes, water transfer, or
irrigation canals) may inadvertently lengthen and/or intensify the productive
and reproductive working day of women by placing water sources in distant
zones (Aguilar, L. et al. 2009).
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Gender and Climate Change Capacity development series Afric a
Training module 1
Overview of linkages between gender and climate change