Workshop* on Mainstreaming Gender in International and National Climate Change Policy and Program

Abstract

The effects of climate change can cause a great impact on human being s . Over the next decade , the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, 2007) predicts billions of people, hailing particularly from developing countries, such as Bangladesh, will face acute water and food crisis, as well as major health risks as a result of climate change, which consequently will po se a threat to economic progress and human security in a multifaceted manner. Bangladesh experiences a wide array of natural disasters almost every year as a result of climate change which includes: floods, cyclones and storm surges, salinity intrusion, ex treme temperature, and droughts. In the span of the last 28 years (19880 - 2008) Bangladesh has experienced 219 natural disasters, causing a total damage of US$ 16 billion (UNDP, 2015). One of the fundamental factors in shaping the relationship between people and the environment is gender. The impacts of climate change affect men and women differently. In Bangladesh, gender inequalities, power dynamics and access to information make women especially those with lower socioeconomic status vulnerable to cli matic impacts as it limits their ability to respond and adapt to disaster and climate change. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) gives high priority to finding solutions to climate change through a gendered approach. However, a large body of empirical stud ies that attempts to integrate a gender perspective to promote gender equality fails to acknowledge relationships between women and men and how it influences vulnerability. The workshop on Mainstreaming Gender in International and National Climate Change Policy and Program focused on an in - depth analysis of gender - climate links that can better inform climate policy in Bangladesh as well as internationally. Building on unique proficiencies of researchers, policy makers and practitioners , the workshop aimed to deconstruct popular assumptions about women‟s vulnerability in relation to men‟s by discussing how social and economic factors determine men and women‟s vulnerability to climate change. WORKSHOP ON MAINSTRE AMING GENDER IN INTE RNATIONAL AND NATION AL CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY AND PROGRAM 4 The workshop on Mainstreaming Gender in International and National Climate Change Policy and Program focused on an in - depth analysis of gender - climate links that can better inform climate policy in Bangladesh as well as internationally. Building on unique proficiencies of researchers, policy makers and practitioners , the workshop aimed to deconstruct popular assumptions about women‟s vulnerability in relation to men‟s by discussing how social and economic factors determine men and women‟s vulnerability to climate change. I hope the readers of the workshop report will find in it a valuab le source in fostering better understanding of gender - climate link to advocate and formulate gender sensitive policies and programs. I would like to thank the participants of the workshop for sparing time in attending this workshop despite their busy sched ule and enriching the workshop outcome. EWUCRT Staff and the rapporteurs Ms. Rubayat Kabir and Mr Shahriar Khandaker of Social Relations Department deserve my deepest appreciation for their support and cooperation, Dr. Sardana Islam, Deputy Executive Direc tor of EWUCRT deserves appreciation for her untiring support and cooperation in providing logistical support. I would also like to thank Ms. Aynun Nahar for giving the final shape of this report. Mr. Shafiqur Rahman deserves appreciation for English editin g of the manuscript.