Women, Climate Change and CitiesLora Minicucci and Beatrice Mauger, Women’s Environment and

Development Organization Fellows

March 2015

Why Gender and Climate Change?

• Climate change exacerbates existing systemic inequalities.

• Gender roles and inequality can make women more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

• Just and sustainable climate change solutions must include women in decision-making.

Climate Change Concepts (I)

Vulnerability: Predisposition towards being negatively affected by the changing climate.

Lack of ability to adapt to climate change. Susceptibility to harm.

Capacity Building: Providing tools and/or resources to adapt or mitigate climate change.

Resilience: Ability of an ecosystem or settlement to withstand a shock.

Social Impacts of Climate Change

Climate Change Concepts (II)

Adaptation: Adjustment to the changing climate with the intention to avoid or lessen harm.

Mitigation: Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.

New technology, reduction in energy use, or promotion of sinks.

Climate Justice: Movement that seeks to eliminate the inequalities that are exacerbated by climate change.

Climate Change and Cities: An Overview

Cities represent:

• 52% of the global population (2011). • 67-76% of energy use (2006).• 71-76% of energy-related CO2 emissions (2006).• Urban population expected to reach 5.6-7.1 billion - 64-69% of world population - by 2050.

Cities are mobilizing:

• 228 cities have committed to saving 13 gigatons of GHG by 2050.• Initiatives within scope of UN (proposed SDG target, Compact of Mayors)

However, absence of gender dimension at the local level.

WEDO Study

• Objective & Methodology• Findings • Mexico City (Mexico City Climate

Action Plan 2014-2020)

• San Francisco (Cities for CEDAW)

Gender Opportunities and Entry Points• Disaster Risk Recovery: Women Will Rebuild Miami

• Transportation: Bogotá’s Rapid Transit System

• Green jobs: US Department of Labor Women’s Bureau green jobs training pilot program

Key Recommendations• Address unequal power relations and promote the full participation and

leadership of women in the decision-making process by ensuring their needs, responsibilities, rights, and agency are recognized at all institutional levels.

• Introduce/strengthen gender equality measures into local policies.

• Develop and disseminate guidance and best practices for city governments and policymakers.

• Conduct additional research for possible entry points.

• Collect and use data that is disaggregated by gender, age, ethnicity, etc… and conduct more research to evaluate the success of programs targeting women.

• Conduct training programs and capacity-building targeting women to support their role in implementing climate mitigation and adaptation policy.