Women and the Environment: An Asia-Pacific Snapshot<\/em>.<\/p>\nWomen to improve climate response<\/h3>\n \u201cWomen in Pacific Island countries and territories and\u00a0indigenous\u00a0women across the region are key holders of traditional knowledge,\u201d explained Sara Duerto Valero, the report\u2019s lead author and regional advisor on gender statistics for UN Women Asia and the Pacific.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom seasonal planting, to going after fallowing practices for land, or even limiting the consumption of certain animals or plants during select seasons, these practices carry important conservation\u00a0knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report notes that as climate change alters rainfall patterns, it may put access to safe drinking\u00a0water\u00a0at risk and worsen the burden of water collection that largely falls on women. It also explains that, increased severity and frequency of droughts and floods due to climate change may amplify the barriers to using clean cooking fuels.<\/p>\n
Women make up roughly one-third of the workforce in the renewable\u00a0energy\u00a0sector globally, overwhelmingly in administrative rather than managerial or technical positions. In\u00a0agriculture,\u00a0forestry\u00a0and\u00a0fishing, they earn less than men and are overrepresented in lower positions, according to the report.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaising women\u2019s wages and dismantling barriers for their participation and decision-making in commercial operations could enable women to maintain their livelihoods and contribute to the sustainable management of these resources,\u201d Duerto Valero tells\u00a0SciDev.Net<\/em>. \u201cIn regions such as the Pacific, where women are key holders of traditional knowledge, their access to decision-making positions could be particularly transformational\u201d.<\/p>\nSustainable development goals<\/h3>\n \u201cEvidence from gender-environment surveys, where available, demonstrates that landowners are typically the ones who make decisions regarding pesticide and fertiliser use, as well as regarding the use of\u00a0sustainable\u00a0practices for agriculture or animal grazing,\u201d Valero added.<\/p>\n
The report utilises available data from Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators, microdata from standard surveys and geospatial information from countries in the Asia Pacific region. Only 23 of the 200 SDG indicators capture the gender-environment nexus.<\/p>\n
\u201cExisting globally-agreed indicators are not fit-for-purpose to properly address the gender-environment nexus. A broader set of indicators is necessary,\u201d Valero stated.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s representation in environment-related\u00a0government\u00a0bodies<\/h3>\n Women are underrepresented in environment-related\u00a0government\u00a0bodies, the private sector and natural resource management groups in the Asia Pacific region.\u00a0<\/strong>Fewer than one in five countries have a woman minister for the environment or equivalent, and 6% have one for fisheries, according to the report.<\/p>\n\u201cPromoting their engagement, for example, in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, energy-related vocational training, sustainable agriculture studies etc. is key to ensuring they can access decision-making positions in private firms and government bodies later in life,\u201d Valero added.<\/p>\n
Asia Pacific only scores 0.52 out of one in the availability of multi-hazard early warning systems according to the report. Early warning systems help communities prepare for hazardous climate-related events, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic activity etc. Providing internet to the 977 million women who still lack access in the region, could contribute substantially to disaster prevention.<\/p>\n
“Women are often the first responders in their community,\u201d\u00a0concluded ActionAid Australia\u2019s executive director, Michelle Higelin. \u201cGovernments and civil society must prioritise the\u00a0influence\u00a0and leadership of diverse women in disaster management and climate change policies. This includes developing initiatives that strengthen women\u2019s participation in decision-making and supporting women-led innovations in regions that are on the frontlines of the climate crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A new report, conducted by the UN Women Asia and the Pacific, discusses the vital role that women can have for an improved climate response. According to a report by\u00a0UN Women Asia and the Pacific, women possess essential knowledge and skills to contribute to the conservation and management of natural resources to create an improved […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":19397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24433,785],"tags":[689,789],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Empowering women is essential for an improved climate response<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n