Addressing women in climate change policies: A focus on selected east and southern African countries

abstract

This Article responds to claims in the literature that gender mainstreaming is lacking in international and national climate change policy regimes. A scan of climate change policies from selected east and southern African countries was conducted to assess whether climate change policies include gender and women. The focus on women is deliberate given women's greater vulnerability to climate change impacts than men. The research analysis used a framework modified from the United Nations Environment Programme's (2011) recommendations on women's needs in climate change. The main finding is that although the national policies reviewed are in their infancy, with the oldest, the National Policy on Climate Change for Namibia having been put in place only in 2010, the mainstreaming of women's needs in climate change has gained momentum. However, the empowerment of women by climate change policy varies significantly from country to country.

keywords:

• women
• gender
• mainstreaming
• climate change policy
• east and southern Africa

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Exxaro Resources Limited for sponsoring the Chair in Business and Climate Change run under UNISA's Institute for Corporate Citizenship.

Notes

1. Alston (2013 in press) questions the seriousness with which governments have paid attention to the mainstreaming of gender and whether gender equality goals will be reached as a result. I note her concern on the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming as a means to achieve gender equality in climate change and add that how women are situated by policy will also determine whether women are empowered, rather than ascribed token or symbolic relevance in policy.

2. The importance of gender equality laws of countries in providing support and direction for women's mainstreaming in climate change policy as well as equal representation in climate change decision-making, at national and international levels, has been highlighted by Kenya and Malawi (UNFCCC, 2013a; 2013b) in submissions supporting the resolution for gender parity and equal representation and participation by women and men in all UNFCCC bodies and delegations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Godwell Nhamo

GODWELL NHAMO is a Full Professor and Chair for the Exxaro Chair in Business and Climate Change hosted by the Institute for Corporate Citizenship at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Professor Nhamo has published widely on the green economy, climate change and other related environmental topics. Email: [email protected].