Integrating Gender issues into Climate Change Adaptation: National and Regional policy making and planning ECOWAS Re

1. Integrating Gender issues into Climate Change Adaptation: National and Regional policy making and planning  ECOWAS Regional Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change in West Africa, Cotonou, Benin 18 -22 October 2008 Dr. Janet Kabeberi-Macharia Senior Adviser on Gender, UNEP

2. Gender and Climate Change:UNEP 2008 Introduction The IPCC in 2001 noted that “ Climate change impacts will be differently distributed among different regions, generations, age, classes, income groups occupations and genders”.

3. Gender and Climate Change:UNEP 2008 Developing countries bear the brunt of climate change impacts: development is constrained, increasing poverty levels and delays in achievement of MDGs living conditions and livelihoods are harmed, increasing inequities in health, access to water, food sources of energy. increasing human costs particularly for the poor who are heavily dependent on the environment for survival.

4. Gender and Climate Change:UNEP 2008 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND VULNERABILITIES IN AFRICA  Vulnerability refers to “the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate change” Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability. By vulnerability, we mean “the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate change”. Africa is already under pressure from climate stresses, and many areas in Africa have climates that among the most variable in the world. Africa’s vulnerability to climate change is increased by the climate-dependency of its major economic sectors, and the existing development challenges such as poverty, weak institutions, limited infrastructure, limited access to technology and information and complex disasters and conflicts. Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability. By vulnerability, we mean “the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate change”. Africa is already under pressure from climate stresses, and many areas in Africa have climates that among the most variable in the world. Africa’s vulnerability to climate change is increased by the climate-dependency of its major economic sectors, and the existing development challenges such as poverty, weak institutions, limited infrastructure, limited access to technology and information and complex disasters and conflicts.

5. Gender and Climate Change:UNEP 2008 Vulnerability occurs disproportionately Who or what are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change? What social, physical, and environmental factors make them vulnerable? The conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards The conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards

6. Gender and Climate Change:UNEP 2008 Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change; already under pressure from climate stresses – variable climates in many areas Africa’s vulnerability is increased by climate-dependency of major economic sectors and by existing development challenges African women by virtue of their reproductive and productive roles are more vulnerable to impacts of Climate Change

7. Gender and Climate Change:UNEP 2008 Examples Water: Population at risk of increased water stress 75-200 million people by 2020 – potential for conflicts Agriculture: Production will be compromised in many African countries due to loss of land, shorter growing seasons, lower yields – risk of increasing food insecurity