The Editor

The ClimAct Magazine

As a postgraduate in Environmental Studies and a writer, I believe that solutions to climate

change need to be put forward before the readers in a neat language with in-depth research. My
article explains how climate inclusive infrastructure, a good solution for the issue, is related to
decreasing gender disparity, as women are most vulnerable during climatic disasters. Developing
a better climate infrastructure with a gender approach that involves women as decision-makers
can definitely change their situation.

Regards
Sonali Sharma
India

Climate Inclusive Infrastructure for Reducing Gender Disparity

A reliant and well-built infrastructure is a must when we talk about achieving community
development and reducing gender disparity for a longer time. In 2020 alone there were more than
2500 global infrastructure projects showcasing an increase of 5.5% from the previous year 2019.
In the Infrastructure for Climate Action Report issued by UNOPS, UNEP, and Oxford
University, it has been highlighted that infrastructure accounts for 79% of greenhouse gas
emissions and adds up to 88% of all adaptation costs.

On the other hand, climate change has been characterized as an emergency by global
environmental experts. As per the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)’s report of
September 2019, the world is already 1℃ above the preindustrial level which is very near to the
category of an “unacceptable risk”.

Keeping both infrastructure and climate change in mind and knowing their consequences for
vulnerable communities especially women, a climate-inclusive infrastructure is the paramount
need of the hour. Climate-inclusive infrastructure means an infrastructure that is equipped with
four factors – planning, design, building, and operation – that prepare and adapt to hazards of
climate change.

It is a fact that women are more dependent on endangered natural resources and hence more
affected by adverse climatic conditions. Not only this, several economic, social, and cultural
reasons disclose the same testimony. According to the rapid response assessment “Women At
The Frontline of Climate Change Gender Risks And Hopes” in South Asia women are at a higher
risk of death resulting from climate change-related disasters in comparison to men. For instance,
in 1991 a cyclone hit Bangladesh which accounted for 59% of women’s deaths out of the total
number of lives claimed by it. In the 2004 Asian tsunami, 70% of the women died in one of the
provinces of Indonesia. In an estimation done by the UNFPA after the Nepal earthquake in
2015, 2 million females of reproductive age have been disturbed which included 1,26,000
pregnant women. It is also to be noted that women are most vulnerable to post-disaster outcomes
and are often subjected to exploitation, gender-based violence, and human trafficking. The
World Health Organization stated that in Bangladesh which is prone to climatic disasters, women
from 8 out of 10 houses face sexual assault, harassment, and rape while collecting water.

According to the UN Environment, 80% of people who have experienced displacement are
women. The other issues arising from climate change displacement include child marriage, a
decrease in the number of female students attending schools, and a reduction in food availability.
Scientists at Columbia University estimate that there would be 396 million women deficient in
iron due to climate change by 2050. This is due to an increase in temperature that is affecting the
quality and reducing the amount of iron, zinc, and protein in wheat and rice. In India and
Bangladesh due to rising sea levels there are instances of salt water intrusion degrading health
and economy specifically for women.

Further, an improper transport infrastructure retards the ability of women to evacuate and receive
adequate emergency assistance. During floods and drought, women as caregivers and food and
fuel providers suffer the most. Due to major differences in gender roles, responsibilities, norms,
and expectations the ability of boys, girls, men, and women to be affected by early warning
systems varies widely. This in turn puts an impact on the perception of impact risk and responses
of the individuals, families, and communities. The proportion of already existing gender
disparity tends to amplify under such scenarios.

Developing a climate-inclusive infrastructure is an important way to diminish the effect of

climate change on women and strengthen their position. It provides safer access to better
transport facilities, digital communication, clean water, sanitation, energy, and health care
centers helping women to save themselves during a disaster and also from its aftermath. As such
the climate-inclusive infrastructure projects securing funds from international agencies and
climate funds should have a valuable gender component included in them. A good number of
investments in the climate-inclusive infrastructure sector can elevate the situation of women
during calamities. This means that these monetary outlays should focus primarily on achieving
effective adaptation measures such as resilience in water supply, coastal, and marine water
resources, health infrastructure for an emergency, monitoring and early warning systems.

The world must change its perspective on viewing women as mere beneficiaries. Their valid
engagement as thoughtful planners and quick decision-makers in climate-inclusive infrastructure
projects is a must. For aiming at the beneficiary part proper categorization of potential women
beneficiaries should be mandatorily done. These vulnerable women beneficiary groups include
urban and rural wage workers, rural women performing greatly across the agriculture sector,
women entrepreneurs, only women earners of the family, unemployed women, and young girls
in their academic years. The women’s voices should be provided with a broad platform during
project planning and implementation stages, which has a marked significance in their lives as
well as that of their communities. Even so, these participatory and climate-inclusive
infrastructure measures develop women’s leadership and local wisdom in matters of sustainable
resource and water management.

The different practitioners involved in the infrastructure lifecycle also have a major role to play.
Planners, designers, financiers, contractors, operators, and decommissioning specialists can
enhance benefits and help in rethinking the plan, design, and management while considering
building a stronger status for women. The key planners and implementers of the project should
definitely adhere to the national gender policies and international gender goals and
commitments.

Moreover, it is important to ensure that for the successful implementation of the climate-
inclusive infrastructure projects, the human and financial resources are kept intact. At times, the
gender-associated aspect is included in the design of the project, but it is not well-implemented.
To increase the role of women’s organizations as part of seeking better infrastructural solutions
and developing early warning systems, an additional budget should be reserved by high-level
policymakers and donors. Apart from this, incentives should be provided to increase the
possibilities of hiring local women technicians and women-led businesses to look into the
complete set-up and execution of the climate infrastructure projects.

Author Bio: Sonali Sharma is Programme Coordinator at Himalayan Environmental Studies and
Conservation Organization (HESCO), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. She is also a published
poet and writer.