What connects women to climate change and why their role is fundamental, beyond gender equality. An interview with Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, head of UN Women.
The global climate agreement being negotiated in Paris should keep the issue of gender equality high on the agenda, both in terms of participation and in recognition of the role women play in driving change. This is what the United Nations itself is calling for, through the entity for gender equality and women's empowerment (UN Women). The day dedicated to women's participation in tackling climate change and to the advancement of rights, held on 8 December during the proceedings of COP21, was the perfect opportunity to better understand these issues through the words of the executive director of UN Women and UN Under-Secretary-General, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Mlambo-Ngcuka also served as Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008 under the presidency of Thabo Mbeki, before being chosen by then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to lead the entity dedicated to women. Before her, the role was held by Chilean president Michelle Bachelet.
Why are women more exposed to the negative effects of global warming?
Women are not as resilient – not as able to adapt – as men to climate change, because of their socioeconomic condition. They often lack the resources that would help them rebuild after their lives have been devastated by climate-related disasters. For example, more than 70 per cent of the victims of the tsunami that struck Asia in 2004 were women. All of this is because women did not have the capacity to withstand the tragedy and get back on their feet. But if they were better educated, they would be able to become a force for good, because they are better at looking beyond themselves.
In what ways can girls and women be protagonists in tackling climate change?
They can be agents of change because they are the ones who manage the family from an energy perspective. They are the ones who make most of the decisions and also have to deal with electricity needs. So if a woman were informed about the concept of energy efficiency or how to generate electricity cleanly, these would automatically become her priorities as she seeks to get the best outcome for the entire household and for the rest of the community.
Women are also key players when it comes to agriculture, as they are responsible for the family's food security. Do you think climate change could undermine this role of theirs?
Women are more aware than men of the fundamental importance of protecting the environment. And for this reason they are more inclined to take on the role of farmer in a more climate-smart way. They are better growers and, therefore, they pay greater attention to the issue of food security. Despite all this, however, women continue to have limited access to education and technology, which means their role in agriculture is less effective even though they make up the majority in the sector. Investing in women, therefore, means improving the quality of the entire agri-food supply chain.