15 Understanding Gender Dimensions …
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arable land. The salinity intrusion in the coastal area has created a serious implication for coastal land which traditionally was used for rice production (Sikder and
Xiaoying 2014). A study also found that an increase in maximum temperatures by
1 °C at vegetative, reproductive and ripening stages decreased Aman rice production by 2.94, 53.06 and 17.28 tons, respectively (Islam et al. 2008). With changes in
temperatures by (2 to 4 °C), prospects of growing wheat and potato would severely
be impaired. The Philippines ranks highest globally in terms of vulnerability to tropical cyclones, third in terms of people’s exposure to seasonal events and is the fourth
most affected by extreme weather events (Sönke Kreft et al. 2016). Agriculture is an
integral part of the economic sector of the Philippines, with a 12% contribution to
the country’s GDP and a source of employment for around 32% of the economically
active population (The World Bank 2017). Rice, being one of the integral sources
of revenue as well as nutrition in the Philippines, has had its yields and revenue
declining, with a link established with extreme weather events (Preston et al. 2006).
Between 1990 and 2006, damages to agricultural production in the country were
attributed to typhoons (70%), droughts (18%), and floods (5%), with average typhoon
related damages to the sector estimated at USD 136 million (CCC 2011). According
to the Pakistan economic survey (2011–12), the country’s agricultural sector absorbs
45% of the labour force, has an export share of 18% and a 21% contribution to the
country’s GDP. Therefore, the impact that changing climates have on the agricultural
sector of the country cannot be underestimated. Wheat, being a staple food crop in
Pakistan is deemed important due to its extensive use as food and a relatively cheaper
source of animal feed. A decrease of 1.9% in wheat production from 25. 979 million
tons to 25.478 million tons during the period from 2013 to 2015 was partly attributed
to disruptions in the rainfall patterns and prolonged winter periods due to changing
climate (GOP 2015; Ali et al. 2017).
The principal climatic hazards affecting Bangladesh—floods and cyclones—are
likely to increase in frequency, intensity, duration, and extent. The summer monsoon
rainfall is projected to increase, swelling the main river systems in the wider catchment, and boosting the rainfall impact within the country. How these increased hazard
impacts will affect women, in particular, is extremely difficult to predict.
As a primary factor of social organization, gender shapes the social worlds within
which natural events occur. Not surprisingly, gender differences are found in studies
of emergency preparedness, voluntary action, emergency communication, the division of labour, post-traumatic stress, and coping strategies, among other areas. Rural
women make up the majority of the world’s poor population. In all developing
regions, female-headed rural households are among the poorest of the poor.
Until recently, international climate change policymakers have neglected the
gender dimension of climate change. A focus on technical solutions has ignored social
and political factors. The successful implementation of climate change policies and
projects requires an understanding of the gender-based roles and relationships vis-àvis natural resources, as well as the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change
and the different risks and vulnerabilities of women and men. With this established
negative link between agricultural damage and climate change (Zilberman et al. 2004;
289
arable land. The salinity intrusion in the coastal area has created a serious implication for coastal land which traditionally was used for rice production (Sikder and
Xiaoying 2014). A study also found that an increase in maximum temperatures by
1 °C at vegetative, reproductive and ripening stages decreased Aman rice production by 2.94, 53.06 and 17.28 tons, respectively (Islam et al. 2008). With changes in
temperatures by (2 to 4 °C), prospects of growing wheat and potato would severely
be impaired. The Philippines ranks highest globally in terms of vulnerability to tropical cyclones, third in terms of people’s exposure to seasonal events and is the fourth
most affected by extreme weather events (Sönke Kreft et al. 2016). Agriculture is an
integral part of the economic sector of the Philippines, with a 12% contribution to
the country’s GDP and a source of employment for around 32% of the economically
active population (The World Bank 2017). Rice, being one of the integral sources
of revenue as well as nutrition in the Philippines, has had its yields and revenue
declining, with a link established with extreme weather events (Preston et al. 2006).
Between 1990 and 2006, damages to agricultural production in the country were
attributed to typhoons (70%), droughts (18%), and floods (5%), with average typhoon
related damages to the sector estimated at USD 136 million (CCC 2011). According
to the Pakistan economic survey (2011–12), the country’s agricultural sector absorbs
45% of the labour force, has an export share of 18% and a 21% contribution to the
country’s GDP. Therefore, the impact that changing climates have on the agricultural
sector of the country cannot be underestimated. Wheat, being a staple food crop in
Pakistan is deemed important due to its extensive use as food and a relatively cheaper
source of animal feed. A decrease of 1.9% in wheat production from 25. 979 million
tons to 25.478 million tons during the period from 2013 to 2015 was partly attributed
to disruptions in the rainfall patterns and prolonged winter periods due to changing
climate (GOP 2015; Ali et al. 2017).
The principal climatic hazards affecting Bangladesh—floods and cyclones—are
likely to increase in frequency, intensity, duration, and extent. The summer monsoon
rainfall is projected to increase, swelling the main river systems in the wider catchment, and boosting the rainfall impact within the country. How these increased hazard
impacts will affect women, in particular, is extremely difficult to predict.
As a primary factor of social organization, gender shapes the social worlds within
which natural events occur. Not surprisingly, gender differences are found in studies
of emergency preparedness, voluntary action, emergency communication, the division of labour, post-traumatic stress, and coping strategies, among other areas. Rural
women make up the majority of the world’s poor population. In all developing
regions, female-headed rural households are among the poorest of the poor.
Until recently, international climate change policymakers have neglected the
gender dimension of climate change. A focus on technical solutions has ignored social
and political factors. The successful implementation of climate change policies and
projects requires an understanding of the gender-based roles and relationships vis-àvis natural resources, as well as the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change
and the different risks and vulnerabilities of women and men. With this established
negative link between agricultural damage and climate change (Zilberman et al. 2004;