In the face of extreme weather events, desertification and a rise in the sea levels, governments and communities increasingly recognize that the need to adapt and mitigate to climate change is urgent. The global agenda and negotiations focus on what governments, corporations and institutions can do in the search for large-scale technological solutions. Yet women, men and local communities all have roles, responsibilities and interests that hold the potential either to harm or benefit the environment. This book considers the gendered dimensions of climate change. It shows how gender analysis has been widely overlooked in debates about climate change and its interactions with poverty and demonstrates its importance for those seeking to understand the impacts of global environmental change on human communities. Ranging in scope from high-level global decision-making to local communities, the contributors examine the potential impacts of environmental degradation and change on vulnerable groups. They highlight the different vulnerabilities, risks and coping strategies of poor women and men in the face of environmental degradation and increased livelihood insecurity. They show how good gender analysis at all levels of policy-making and implementation is essential in ensuring equitable outcomes for women and men and key to creating climate change policies that work for poor people as well as for the rich.

Caroline Sweetman

Caroline Sweetman was previously Editor of the international journal Gender & Development.