Linkage of SRHR to Climate change

1. Introduction to
Environment & Climate
Change, and their linkage
to SRHR
Presented by
Md Asif Hasan
Research and Innovation Associate

2. What is Environment?
 The environment is all external conditions, circumstances, and influences surrounding and affecting the
growth and development of an organism or community of organisms.
 The interactions of organisms with biotic and abiotic factors form an ecosystem.
Types of Environment
 Micro-environment -is the Domestic environment in which man lives.
 Internal environment -is some time used for environment inside the body.
Components of the Environment
 PHYSICAL: air, water, soil, housing, climate, geography, heat, light, noise, debris, radiation, etc.
 BIOLOGICAL: man, viruses, microbial agents, insects, rodents, animals and plants, etc.
 PSYCHOSOCIAL: cultural values, customs, beliefs, habits, attitudes, morals, religion, education,
lifestyles, community life, health services, social and political organization.
Environment

3. Types of Environmental Hazard
 Natural Hazards- are geographical and meteorological events of such magnitude and proximity to
communities that they produce Significant damage and injuries.
Examples: cyclones, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions.
 Psychological Hazards- are environmental factors that produce psychological changes expressed as
stress, depression, hysteria.
 Sociological Hazards- are those that result from living in a society where one experiences problems
like noise, lack of privacy, overcrowding etc.
 Biological Hazards- caused by living organisms or their products that are harmful to humans.
• Water Borne Disease- are diseases that are transmitted in drinking water
• Food Borne Disease- are diseases transmitted in or on food
• Vector Borne Disease- are those transmitted by insects or other arthropods

4. Hazard, Vulnerability, Risk and Disaster
Hazard : potential threat to humans and their welfare
+
Vulnerability : exposure and susceptibility to losses
=
Risk : probability of hazard occurrence
Disaster : Realization of an uncontrollable Situation

5. Progression from Hazard to Disaster
ROOT CAUSES
Limited access to Resources
Ideologies
• Economic systems
• Political systems
Environmental Conditions
DYNAMIC PRESSURES
Lack of
• Institutions
• Training
• Skills
• Investment
Macro-forces
• Population growth
• Urbanisation
UNSAFE CONDITIONS
Fragile Environment
• Unprotected
• Unhealthy
Fragile local economy
• Livelihoods at risk
• Low income
Vulnerable society
• Groups at risk
• Little capacity to cope
Public actions
• Lack of preparedness
• Endemic disease
DISASTERS

6. An Example
Human
Needs:
Nutrition
Human
Wants:
Dietary
preference
Choiceof
Means:
Cropping
system
Initiating
Events:
Drought
Intermediate
Events:
Cropfailure
Outcome:
Household
food
scarcity
Exposure:
Hunger of
household
members
Consequence:
Morbidity,
Loss of livelihood
Consequence:
Death
Modify
Wants:
Alter choice
of foods
Modify
Means:
Choose
drought
crops
Copewith
Event:
Irrigate
Copewith
Event:
Replant
Copewith
Outcome:
Sell assets,
buy food
Block
Exposure:
Migrateto
findfood
Mitigate
Consequence:
Reduceactivity
Mitigate
Consequence:
Emergency relief,
recovery,
rehabilitation
Here is an example of how vulnerability leads to disaster from a single component of the society
& how proper mitigation measures in different stages of progression can break the chain-

7. Environmental Health
Environmental health refers to the management of environmental conditions
that affect the health and well-being of humans.
“Healthy people are those who live in healthy
homes on a healthy diet; in an environment
equally fit for birth, growth, work, healing,
and dying. Healthy people need no
bureaucratic interference to mate, give birth,
share the human condition, and die.”
-Ivan Illich
Environment
Anthropogenic
activities
Human Health
Environmental
Triad

8.  Climate Change denotes the effects of global warming by way of long-term
changes in Earth’s climate in the form of enhanced evaporation and precipitation,
heat waves, droughts, shift in temporal & spatial patterns of precipitation, floods,
rapid melting of glaciers and ice sheets, sea-level rise, hurricanes/tornadoes, food
security, extinction of certain species, and epidemics etc.
 Consequences of Climate Change
 Agriculture and food security- Crop yields, irrigation demands...
 Water resources- Water supply, water quality...
 Species and natural areas- Biodiversity, modification of ecosystems...
 Human health- Infectious diseases, human settlements...
Climate Change

10. The Link Between Environment, Climate Change and SRHR
Environment, climate change , and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues are inextricably linked.
• High Population Density
• Poverty Level
• Geomorphic Conditions
• Geographic Location
• Climate Change
• Extreme Weather Pattern
• Vulnerable Households
• Vulnerable Communities
• Vulnerable Environment
• Differential Access to
Decision-Making
• Socio-cultural Norms
Increased Vulnerability of Women
• Gender Sensitive Policies and
Programs
• Strong and Effective Local
Government
Resilient Communities where women
and girls can adapt to climate change
Women as Decision Makers and
Community Leaders
Non-resilient Communities where
women and girls are more vulnerable to
climate change
• Lack of Privacy and Insecure
Environments with Violation of SRH
rights, including GBV and harassment
• Limited or No Access to SRH
Services

11. The impacts of
climate change have
detrimental effects on
individuals’SRHR
• Climate change issues have negative impacts on maternal health
and create conditions that result in increases in gender-based
violence, including harmful practices such as child marriage.
• Climate-related disasters may strain the capacity of health systems
and hinder access to SRHR services.
Climate action efforts
may indirectly and
directly impact SRHR
• Climate change adaptation efforts that improve health systems,
girls’ education, and women’s economic empowerment can
indirectly provide benefits to SRHR.
• Most mitigation efforts tackle the key contributors to climate
change, such as consumption patterns. These efforts may have
indirect impacts on individuals’ SRHR, which require further
attention.
Realization

12. • There are considerable gaps in research and evidence that link climate change and SRHR.
But it is clear that Environmental & climatic change, their impacts, and subsequent
efforts to address them, negatively affect SRHR both directly and indirectly.
• Applying a social justice framework to climate action and providing opportunities to
strengthen SRHR can improve resilience to climate change, and thereby helping achieve
the dual goals of Environmental security and gender equality.
Conclusion

13. Thank You
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