India: Climate Change and the Need for Gender-Responsive Policymaking

Apr 5, 2020 | Akanksha Khullar
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While climate change in general has negative implications, from a gender perspective, it entails greater risks for women than men. In India, as weather patterns change and become more unpredictable, with rising temperatures, droughts, heavy rainfalls, and powerful storms, it could exacerbate prevailing pressures as well as create new problems for women, especially those in rural areas.

In patriarchal societies, women’s abilities to adapt to the impacts of climate change are limited by social inequalities and their socioeconomic roles. These roles can influence property rights, access to information and resources, employment prospects, etc. Women are more likely to suffer from physical and psychological health problems, and also be the most affected during agrarian crises, natural disasters, etc. Further, rising temperatures and extreme weather events could adversely impact women’s lives and livelihoods, and also expose them to an increased risk of sexual abuse.