Climate change and environmental degradation have profound impacts on the lives of women, particularly affecting their access to natural resources, food security, and livelihood opportunities. Understanding these impacts and assessing the government’s gender-responsive approach to climate policies is crucial for developing effective and equitable strategies.

Impact on Women’s Lives
Access to Natural Resources:

Water Scarcity: Women, especially in rural areas, are often primarily responsible for collecting water. Climate change-induced droughts and water scarcity increase the time and effort required to fetch water, affecting women’s health and increasing their burden.
Energy Resources: In many regions, women rely on biomass (wood, crop waste) for cooking and heating. Deforestation and environmental degradation reduce the availability of these resources, forcing women to travel farther and face greater risks.
Food Security:

Agricultural Dependence: Women are deeply involved in agriculture, both as farmers and as primary food providers for their families. Climate change affects crop yields through extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns, and soil degradation, which can lead to reduced food availability and increased prices.
Nutritional Impact: Decreased food security can lead to malnutrition, particularly affecting women and children who are already vulnerable. This impact is exacerbated by the fact that women often have less access to resources and support to address nutritional needs.
Livelihood Opportunities:

Economic Vulnerability: Women’s livelihoods are often linked to natural resources and agriculture. Climate-induced disruptions can undermine their economic stability, limiting their income and access to markets. Women’s lesser access to technology and financial resources further exacerbates their vulnerability.
Health Risks: Climate change can increase the prevalence of diseases and health issues, disproportionately affecting women who may have less access to healthcare services. For instance, extreme weather events and increased heat can lead to health problems that affect women’s productivity and economic opportunities.
Government Efforts and Gender-Responsive Approaches
Policy Integration:

Gender Mainstreaming: The Indian government has begun integrating gender considerations into climate policies. For instance, the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) includes initiatives like the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, which considers gender-specific impacts and aims to involve women in decision-making processes.
Climate Resilience Programs: Programs designed to enhance climate resilience, such as those focusing on water management or agricultural adaptation, increasingly incorporate gender-responsive strategies. These programs aim to address the specific needs of women and involve them in planning and implementation.
Capacity Building and Empowerment:

Training and Education: The government and various NGOs provide training programs to enhance women’s skills in climate-smart agriculture and sustainable practices. These programs aim to increase women’s ability to adapt to climate impacts and improve their economic resilience.
Women’s Participation: Efforts are being made to ensure women’s active participation in climate decision-making processes, including local planning committees and policy dialogues. This involvement helps ensure that women’s perspectives and needs are addressed.
Funding and Support:

Targeted Funding: Some initiatives focus on providing targeted funding and support to women for climate adaptation projects. This includes grants and subsidies for women-led enterprises in sustainable agriculture or renewable energy.
Social Protection: The government has also introduced social protection schemes that include climate-related contingencies. These schemes aim to provide financial support and resources to vulnerable populations, including women, in times of climate-induced crises.
Challenges and Recommendations
Implementation Gaps: While there are policies and programs in place, the implementation often falls short. There may be inadequate resources, lack of local capacity, or insufficient monitoring of gender-specific impacts and outcomes.

Data and Research Needs: More gender-disaggregated data is needed to understand the specific impacts of climate change on women and to design more effective interventions. Research should focus on how different groups of women are affected and how best to support them.

Strengthening Collaboration: Collaboration between government bodies, civil society organizations, and international agencies can enhance the effectiveness of gender-responsive climate policies. Joint efforts can ensure better resource allocation, knowledge sharing, and impact assessment.

In summary, climate change and environmental degradation significantly affect women’s access to natural resources, food security, and livelihood opportunities. While there are government efforts to incorporate gender-responsive approaches in climate policies, ongoing challenges necessitate further improvements in implementation, data collection, and collaborative strategies. Addressing these issues is crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable climate adaptation and mitigation.