Black Feminism's Voice in Climate Change Decisions
- Odharnait Ansbro
- Aug 30, 2016
- 1 min read
When the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest report in 2015, the message was clear: without radical steps to reduce carbon emissions, global temperatures could rise by more than 4 degrees Celsius by 2100.
The report added to the body of evidence that global warming is causing extreme weather, which is already having catastrophic effects on the lives of millions of people around the globe.
Women worldwide are disproportionately affected by climate change, according to U.N. Women, as about two-thirds of working women in developing countries depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. As climate change progresses and traditional food sources become more scarce, more women face losing their only source of food and income.
Their vulnerability to the effects of climate change gives women the unique experience and knowledge enabling them to make a significant contribution to efforts to improve climate resilience and sustainability. When it comes to decision-making about the use of land and resources, however, they are rarely included.
Ollivier Girard/CIFOR