Is Climate Change Gender-Neutral?

No aspect of the climate crisis is gender neutral. All of us contribute towards environmental deterioration in varying degrees. And climate change affects everyone, just not equally. Let’s look at the two largest gender categories – women and men. Existing gender inequality adversely affects women through lack of access to information, resources, aid and reduced representation in decision making. Every time a climate disaster strikes it throws this more vulnerable group into a vicious cycle that continues to widen the “Eco-Gender Gap“.

Several studies and research have revealed that men are less likely to pursue environmentally-friendly behaviors than their female counterparts. According to researchers, societal gender stereotypes unfortunately lead to men engaging in increased fuel extraction and consumption, lower household responsibilities, unsustainable food habits, among others. Despite widespread education and awareness about the climate crisis being the biggest global risk we collectively face today, ethical living, caring for the environment, and sustainable household management are still equated with compromising masculine identity!

Caring for our environment is not effeminate. It’s just human, and it is our job!

The goal is not for a few people to be a “perfect net-zero”, but for a majority of us to be a little less imperfect.

How do women affect the climate?

Women’s consumption choices, household energy use, reproductive choices (wherever available), travel, dietary choices, involvement in agricultural work all affect the changing environmental situation just like the rest of the population. Waste resulting from sub-optimal consumption behavior is of course an open concern that calls for large improvements. However, despite being the largest consumers of fashion, apparel, household goods, furnishings and childcare items, women generally still have a smaller carbon footprint than men, because they spend on relatively low emitting products as opposed to men spending 70% on “greenhouse gas-intensive items”. Men tend to have much higher usage of fossil fuel based transportation, higher employment in environment impacting industries like manufacturing, construction and land use, higher consumption of meat based products and so on that overall weakens their case.

How are women affected by the deteriorating climate?

People across the globe are getting affected by a warming planet – some more than others. Men and women suffer the impact of this change especially during climate disasters that take a toll on health, disrupt livelihood, cause displacement, and food & water insecurity. Men especially suffer through loss of employment, access to resources, home displacement. How are women affected?

Disproportionately. According to the United Nations, women are more vulnerable to climate change. Globally, women and children suffer from higher rates of poverty with even less invested in their health & education in such households. More women in rural areas are dependent on local natural resources. They are responsible for water and energy supply for household cooking and heating. Frequent extreme conditions like floods and droughts impact the woman’s burden much more. They tend to work more to support their families and children. This means less time and access to education and skill development to earn a proper income. Strong associations have been observed between changes in climate conditions and child marriage and birth complications.

In the “Current Path” 2°C warming trajectory projected by the UN where current levels of greenhouse gas emissions continue as is without significant reductions or changes in policy, by 2030 5.5 million more women than men will be pushed into food insecurity especially in Central & Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The “Worse Climate Path” trajectory is even more bleak.

What role do women play in climate action?

A big majority (61%) of climate activists tend to be highly educated women. There is some amazing male talent trickling in, but women often play central roles in mobilizing communities and organizations to participate in climate action initiatives. Sustainability corporate roles have a closer male to female ratio. Women have begun to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in clean energy, sustainable agriculture and waste management. They are also heavily marketed to by companies to consume eco-friendly "green" products, make a shift towards a more predominant plant based diet and purchase energy efficient household goods. These are the areas where larger male representation will help accelerate change.

Positive change begins with awareness and action.

And it is never too small... it's just a step in the right direction.

Gender equality matters in climate action. It is necessary to address gender-specific impact of climate change in water, food security and agriculture. Women hold important skills, influence, and knowledge in areas like natural resources management, conservation and farming that should be leveraged. A lot of this needs inclusive policy from policy makers taking the right measures to empower women and bring about social and economic equality across genders. The Economist reported men in wealthier countries are 50% more likely than women to express concerns about the financial impacts of green policies. Irrespective of individual positions today, ultimately, all men and women will be accountable to enact positive change in the environment.