Women and Global Warming

     Women are much more vulnerable to climate change than men because in many countries they make up a larger share of the agricultural work force.  This is made worse because women tend to have limited access to other income-earning opportunities. Women manage households and care for family members limiting their mobility and increasing their vulnerability to sudden weather-related natural disasters. Drought and erratic rainfall force women to work harder to secure food, water and energy for their homes. Girls drop out of school to help their mothers with these tasks. This cycle of deprivation, poverty and inequality undermines the social capital needed to deal effectively with climate change.

     Research shows that natural disasters, drought, famine and poverty all have a profound effect on women. These situations are significantly influenced by climate change.   A warmer world will potentially intensify gender inequalities.

In sub-Saharan Africa, women are responsible for collecting water and firewood. Decreased rainfall brought on by climate change will undoubtedly make these resources scarcer. Women will need to spend more and more time searching for these items, meaning they’ll have less time to engage in money-making activities or attend school.

 In Kenya, poverty brought on by drought has been linked to a decrease in school attendance and parents are more likely to withdraw girls from school than boys.

In Uganda, what has come to be called “famine marriages” are all too common. Less rainfall brings agricultural losses, which means increased poverty in rural areas that depend on farming. To combat poverty, many families are marrying off their daughters at younger and younger ages in order to secure a dowry or bride price.

As climate change continues to spur drought and agricultural losses, the situation will only get worse for women.  Efforts to help women to become financially independent must also include education on climate change.  Empowering women to make decisions about issues that profoundly effect them will help efforts to stop global warming.