The late #KofiAnnan was absolutely right when he said that, “Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance”. In my work as a philanthropist and children’s rights advocate, gender equality has always played a leading role. In the same way, the challenges of climate change that we face today are not gender-neutral. Climate change is a sustainable development challenge, with broad impacts not only on the environment but also on economic and social development of the sexes. The effects of climate change will vary among regions, and between different generations, income groups and occupations as well as between women and men. If we want to practice efficient, equitable and sustainable climate change action, then we must make gender equality a priority.
DOMESTIC LIFE
Food preparation—which across countries is overwhelmingly done by women—requires household energy. In most developing countries like Ghana, women use cook stoves that rely on solid fuels such as biomass (wood, charcoal, agricultural residues and animal dung) and coal as their primary source. Using dirty solid fuels contributes to harmful emissions of carbon dioxide and black carbon (soot), destructive agents that perpetuate climate change. Investment in efficient cook stoves that use cleaner fuels— for example, renewable solar energy—is a solution to this carbon-intensive status quo that is simultaneously gender-responsive and environmentally sustainable. In Ghana, the charcoal business is huge and run by local women. Therefore, educating these local women on renewable processes of making charcoal and helping them invest in cheaper and efficient modes of cooking will go a long way to support positive climate change action.
EDUCATION
In rural parts of Ghana and many other African countries, where education is already inaccessible to most girls and more emphasis is placed on male child education, climate change effects such as floods, poses a threat to female children who have to usually travel miles to get a good education, or are unable to cross rivers when they’re menstruating due to ethnic taboos in very rural areas. Families therefore prioritize the education of their male children. This leads to a generation of uneducated women who, otherwise could be great resources for the fight against climate change. Fathers could be resourceful allies in ensuring that education is not restricted only to male children but to female children as well. And also, with climate change action embedded in school curriculum, this will provide both boys and girls, equal opportunity and resources to help fight against climate change.
POLICY AND DECISION MAKING
Women have the knowledge and understanding of what is needed to adapt to changing environmental conditions and to come up with practical solutions. But they are still a largely untapped resource. Restricted land rights, lack of access to financial resources, training and technology, and limited access to political decision-making spheres often prevent them from playing a full role in tackling climate change and other environmental challenges. Unleashing the knowledge and capability of women represents an important opportunity to craft effective climate change solutions for the benefit of all. This begins at home – with both men and women involved in climate change conversations and actions, and traveling up the ladder to bigger platforms and stages. It is therefore imperative and not out of context, that a gender analysis must be applied to all actions on climate change and that gender experts are consulted in climate change processes at all levels, so that women's and men’s specific needs and priorities are identified and addressed, wherever they are. Recognizing the important contributions of women as decision makers, stakeholders, educators, carers and experts across sectors and at all levels can lead to successful, long-term solutions to climate change.
CLOSING:To achieve a truly global and unified status in fighting climate change, we must strive to achieve gender equality in our homes, schools, work spaces and we must teach boys and girls that they’re allies in the fight against climate change, not competitors. It is important that gender equality and women’s empowerment continue to influence, shape and drive the collective climate and human development effort.