Gender Parity and Global Warming
We are all familiar with the continual temperature rise and climate change happening right
now on this planet. We are also all familiar with the continuing empowerment of women and girls,
slowly but surely, all over the world. Most of us are probably not familiar with how closely these two
phenomena are linked; I certainly wasn’t. But it is time we recognize gender equity as the solution to
global warming.
now on this planet. We are also all familiar with the continuing empowerment of women and girls,
slowly but surely, all over the world. Most of us are probably not familiar with how closely these two
phenomena are linked; I certainly wasn’t. But it is time we recognize gender equity as the solution to
global warming.
As I’m sure you’ve been told, there are on-hand ways, particularly for our demographic, of
reducing carbon emissions and our waste in our daily lives. We could vow to use only reusable
dish ware and water bottles, we could retrofit our houses and office buildings with solar panels and
water conserving efforts, we could drive electric vehicles, eat less meat, plant more trees, or we
could grant gender parity. These are all puzzle pieces in an expansive network of solutions, but
Katharine Wilkinson, a climate scientist and environmentalist, says “drawing down emissions
depends on rising up.”
It is no surprise that, like anything else, climate change is hitting developing nations the
hardest. In Southeast Asia, for instance, a lack of resources, rapid change, and Western exploitation
have actualized the effects of global warming where the west has been spared. Flooding, food
shortages, stagnating economies. One step further and we learn that the climate crisis is
disproportionally affecting women and girls, striking existing vulnerabilities. Drought can break up
marriages as wives, responsible for household meals, contend with scarcity. Natural disasters can
force young women into prositution as failing infrastructure and national economies mean a severe
lack of opportunity. Dowries often incentivize child marriages in hard times. Ensuing childhood
mothers are almost always vulnerable to anemia, premature birth, hypertension. The list goes on. If
this devestation isn’t enough reason to shore up gender inequality, you should know that gaining
ground for women’s rights means also gaining ground in efforts against climate change in these
three ways:
hardest. In Southeast Asia, for instance, a lack of resources, rapid change, and Western exploitation
have actualized the effects of global warming where the west has been spared. Flooding, food
shortages, stagnating economies. One step further and we learn that the climate crisis is
disproportionally affecting women and girls, striking existing vulnerabilities. Drought can break up
marriages as wives, responsible for household meals, contend with scarcity. Natural disasters can
force young women into prositution as failing infrastructure and national economies mean a severe
lack of opportunity. Dowries often incentivize child marriages in hard times. Ensuing childhood
mothers are almost always vulnerable to anemia, premature birth, hypertension. The list goes on. If
this devestation isn’t enough reason to shore up gender inequality, you should know that gaining
ground for women’s rights means also gaining ground in efforts against climate change in these
three ways:
In 2015, 40% of the agricultural labor force in Sub-Saharan Africa was female. In some
developing nations, that proportion is over 50%. Despite being equally efficient producers as their
male counterparts, female smallholders own fewer agricultural assets (livestock, land, capital) and
have less access to goods and services, (seeds, labor insurance). This disparity is exacerbated by a
women’s need for child care and healthcare as she works a double job, mother and farmer. But this
customized support is worth it when we consider that closing the gender driven resource
inconsistency could increase yields on women-run farms by 20-30%, could raise total agricultural
output in developing countries by 2.5-4%, and could surge the global GDP by as much as $28 trillion
or 26%. In lower income countries, the implications of such growth for national nutrition and for
household income are obvious. More surprising, however, is that the UNDP, in a study of female
farming, concluded World wide, gender parity in agriculture could reduce the number of
malnourished individuals on the planet by anywhere from 12 to 17%. Making access to vital
resources easier for female smallholders will also support women as they cope with the challenges
of being a farmer as the climate continues to change.
developing nations, that proportion is over 50%. Despite being equally efficient producers as their
male counterparts, female smallholders own fewer agricultural assets (livestock, land, capital) and
have less access to goods and services, (seeds, labor insurance). This disparity is exacerbated by a
women’s need for child care and healthcare as she works a double job, mother and farmer. But this
customized support is worth it when we consider that closing the gender driven resource
inconsistency could increase yields on women-run farms by 20-30%, could raise total agricultural
output in developing countries by 2.5-4%, and could surge the global GDP by as much as $28 trillion
or 26%. In lower income countries, the implications of such growth for national nutrition and for
household income are obvious. More surprising, however, is that the UNDP, in a study of female
farming, concluded World wide, gender parity in agriculture could reduce the number of
malnourished individuals on the planet by anywhere from 12 to 17%. Making access to vital
resources easier for female smallholders will also support women as they cope with the challenges
of being a farmer as the climate continues to change.
To grow food, we need farms, we need land. Unfortunately, as our world degenerates, our
land tires, and we still need food, forests and groves are often cleared to grow crops. Not only is
deforestation destroying animal habitats and threatening species, it’s also a culprit of dangerous
CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Considering the statistics from the previous slide, however, it’s
likely we don’t need any land to be cleared at all.
land tires, and we still need food, forests and groves are often cleared to grow crops. Not only is
deforestation destroying animal habitats and threatening species, it’s also a culprit of dangerous
CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Considering the statistics from the previous slide, however, it’s
likely we don’t need any land to be cleared at all.
If we were to maximize the efficiency of existing, female owned plots by providing equitable
access, we see a ripple effect. Support women smallholders, enjoy higher produce yield, prevent
deforestation and sustain the carbon consuming power of trees.
access, we see a ripple effect. Support women smallholders, enjoy higher produce yield, prevent
deforestation and sustain the carbon consuming power of trees.
Point number two. As of 2018, 68 million young women eligible for secondary school and 32
million girls at primary school age are not attending school. That’s 100 million girls denied their basic
right to an education each day. This UN survey recorded a 6% increase in that number since their
last count in 2017. We are all familiar with the opportunities an education can provide, a job, money,
but at the fundamental level, that most of us take for granted, education can mean greater autonomy
at home, increased financial security and literacy, informed healthcare for women and for the next
generation they are birthing, a greater capacity to navigate this climate changing world. Among
these others things, female education also means fewer emissions. When educated, women tend to
get married later and have fewer children. Explanation may include greater agency and influence,
four years for high school, or time spent at work, supporting herself and her family. Though one
fewer child here and there seems inconsequential, the impact worldwide is striking.
million girls at primary school age are not attending school. That’s 100 million girls denied their basic
right to an education each day. This UN survey recorded a 6% increase in that number since their
last count in 2017. We are all familiar with the opportunities an education can provide, a job, money,
but at the fundamental level, that most of us take for granted, education can mean greater autonomy
at home, increased financial security and literacy, informed healthcare for women and for the next
generation they are birthing, a greater capacity to navigate this climate changing world. Among
these others things, female education also means fewer emissions. When educated, women tend to
get married later and have fewer children. Explanation may include greater agency and influence,
four years for high school, or time spent at work, supporting herself and her family. Though one
fewer child here and there seems inconsequential, the impact worldwide is striking.
Family planning would also drawdown emissions and consumption. In the US 45% of
pregnancies are unintended. Millions of women in developing countries wish to decide when and
whether they become pregnant but lack access to contraception. Though the primary objective of
contraception should be to bolster women’s rights and well-being, an estimated one billion prevented
births between now and 2050 is a side effect of rightful access to schooling and birth control worth
considering. A smaller human population means fewer emissions, less demand, more resources,
and a more sustainable human inhabitation of this planet. Gender equity is a solution to climate
change on par with solar and wind energy, household recycling, and forests.
pregnancies are unintended. Millions of women in developing countries wish to decide when and
whether they become pregnant but lack access to contraception. Though the primary objective of
contraception should be to bolster women’s rights and well-being, an estimated one billion prevented
births between now and 2050 is a side effect of rightful access to schooling and birth control worth
considering. A smaller human population means fewer emissions, less demand, more resources,
and a more sustainable human inhabitation of this planet. Gender equity is a solution to climate
change on par with solar and wind energy, household recycling, and forests.
It is very human, and very American, to wish for a one and done solution to climate change
with a checklist to boot. We want our switch to vegetarianism, our quick showers, and our glass
Tupperware to be the end of it. This attitude is truly a luxury of a distant climate change isolated to
nations unlike ours. The reality is that we should all be in a state of panic. Climate change is coming
for you. That is unless we face impending doom and get after a solution, and gender equity is
looking like a really effective one. Contending with climate change, opening our ears to the globe’s
resounding alarm, means putting partisan debate about planetary warming aside and doing all that
we can to save life on Earth. Climate change is not why we should be enfranchising women and girls,
but it does seem like good motivation. And global warming really is a bipartisan issue that does
not see class, race, or national lines which is why we need to be functioning less as citizens of any
nation or members of any group and more like an ecosystem, recognizing incredible strength in our
diversity to get all minds on board and effect immediate change.
with a checklist to boot. We want our switch to vegetarianism, our quick showers, and our glass
Tupperware to be the end of it. This attitude is truly a luxury of a distant climate change isolated to
nations unlike ours. The reality is that we should all be in a state of panic. Climate change is coming
for you. That is unless we face impending doom and get after a solution, and gender equity is
looking like a really effective one. Contending with climate change, opening our ears to the globe’s
resounding alarm, means putting partisan debate about planetary warming aside and doing all that
we can to save life on Earth. Climate change is not why we should be enfranchising women and girls,
but it does seem like good motivation. And global warming really is a bipartisan issue that does
not see class, race, or national lines which is why we need to be functioning less as citizens of any
nation or members of any group and more like an ecosystem, recognizing incredible strength in our
diversity to get all minds on board and effect immediate change.
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