Disproportionate Impact: Climate change intensifies existing gender inequalities, disproportionately affecting women, especially in rural and climate-vulnerable communities in India.
Beijing Report Gap: The Beijing India Report 2024 lacks a robust climate-gender lens, missing a critical intersection.
Increased Burden: Climate-induced water scarcity, extreme heat, and erratic rainfall increase women’s workload (water collection, caregiving), reduce agricultural productivity, and limit income-generating opportunities. Women spend 150 million workdays collecting water each year. Women’s unpaid workload could reach 8.3 hours/day by 2050.
Health Risks: Climate change exacerbates malnutrition, anemia (52.2% of pregnant women affected), maternal and neonatal health issues, and increases the risk of domestic violence (potential 23.5% rise by 2090).
Economic Vulnerability: Women are overrepresented in climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, leading to job losses and financial insecurity. Climate change could push 16 million more women than men into poverty by 2050.
Migration and Displacement: Rural women are highly vulnerable to climate-induced migration, facing adverse health outcomes and increased risks of exploitation and gender-based violence.
Traditional Knowledge: Women possess valuable knowledge of sustainable agriculture and local resource management, crucial for food security and ecosystem preservation.
Women-Led Initiatives: Women are at the forefront of climate adaptation efforts, from sustainable farming to disaster response and community-based natural resource management.
Policy Recommendations: Mainstream gender in climate frameworks (NAPCC, SAPCC), prioritize climate-responsive budgeting, establish local support systems, promote skilling and livelihood diversification, and enhance women’s access to climate information.
Need to Integrate: Need for gender responsive National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) and a percolation to the grass-root level needs to be ensured.
