Peer Learning Summit: Gender-responsive National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes Montego Bay, Jamaica​ | July 26-28, 2022​

1. Gender Equality and
Climate Change Adaptation:
Why consider gender in
adaptation?
Peer learning Summit: Gender Responsive
National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes
Jamaica | July 26-28, 2022
Ayesha Constable
GirlsCARE- Climate Action for Resilience and
Empowerment

2. Why gender in climate adaptation?
POLICY PEOPLE POWER

3. Climate change impacts are
not gender neutral
Who has a voice
in adaptation
decision making?
Who is left out?
Who will benefit
from investments
in adaptation?
Who may be left
behind?
• It affects men and women
differently
• Vary due to factors such as the
division of labour based on
gender norms and traditional
role models, unequal distribution
of resources and rights
• Climate change worsens
inequality between men and
women

4. Differential vulnerabilities to
climate change
• Gender inequalities exacerbate
vulnerability to climate change
• Pre-existing social and economic
conditions exacerbates women's’
vulnerability to climate change
impacts
• Cultural perceptions and gender
roles increase exposure of men to
some climate impacts

5. Perceptions vary by gender
• Men see climate change as a mere
scientific phenomenon vs women see
climate change as anthropogenic
• Women are more ‘concerned’ vs men are
more fatalistic
• Women are more involved in local level
climate action/activism vs men are
involved in decision-making at higher
levels

6. Men and women
value resources
differently
• Men and women perform
different roles in each
sector
• Men and women use
resource inputs in different
ways
• Men and women place
different value on the
resources such as water

7. • Discrimination exacerbates vulnerability to
climate change
• Contextual and intersectional factors such as
interactions with age, social class,
ethnic/religious affiliation and others
Intersectional considerations

8. Variations in adaptive capacity
• Women and men have
varying access to assets
• Access to resources/assets
and power affects adaptive
capacity
• Reduced gender inequality
results in increased adaptive
capacity of all

9. Determinants of adaptation
• Vary by gender
• Shape responses and
adaptation by men and
women
• Related to systemic and
structural factors that affect
access and awareness

10. Classification of
adaptation
technologies
• Recognizes disparities in
access and capacities to
adopt adaptation ‘tools’
• Based on economic &
socio-cultural factors
such as education
• Allows for measures to
promote use and access
to men and women
equally (based on
context)

11. It promotes a rights-
based/justice approach
to climate action
• Challenges traditional gender
roles and
division of labour
• Promotes a whole of society
approach
• Encourages plans and
policies that are gender-
responsive

12. It’s the right thing
to do
• It promotes equality
• It promotes economic
empowerment
• It promotes awareness
building and shifting
perspectives
• Makes climate solutions
gender transformative

13. Thank you
Email: constableayesha@gmail.com
Twitter: @AyeshaConstable
Email: girlscareja@gmail.com
Twitter: @GirlsCareJa
Instagram: @girlscareja