Exploring gender vulnerability and adaptive capacity to climate change associated extremes

Abstract

The study tried to assess vulnerability and adaptation necessity from gender dimension of climate change adversity. The study has been carried out in cyclone Aila affected Gabura union of Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira. The study explored the gender dimension of climate change associated vulnerability with developed matrix framework using a scale of 3.0. Climate change associated vulnerability has been assessed from two contexts. Vulnerability of the women has been analyzed by assessing the impact of climate change on water resources considering the user/ gender perspectives. The vulnerability score of water resources is 1.78 in a scale of 3.0 that means water resources are less to moderate vulnerable to climate change, considering the user/ gender perspective. Climate change associated gradual changes or climate change events have been found as the primary cause of vulnerability. Using the matrix framework, vulnerability of gender community was found to be 2.53 in the vulnerability scale of 3.0, which predicts moderate to severe vulnerable condition of women due to climate change. The context specific vulnerability of women has been assessed for climate change events and climate change extremes. The context specific vulnerability due to climate change events is 2.63 whereas for climate change extremes the score is 2.57, both considered in a scale of 3.0. Findings show that women are more vulnerable to climate change associated gradual changes. Study found that any climate change induced disaster can trigger catastrophic consequence considering the existing scenario. The linkage among exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity shows that Bangladesh has achieved remarkably success in disaster preparedness; but significantly lacks experience to deal with the ongoing changes taking place in climate. The study assessed future gender needs based on SRES A2 and A1B scenarios for the period of 2040-2069 and 2070-2099 where increasing trend in temperature and decreasing trend in precipitation is visible for the study area. The study explored various complexities experienced by only women due to climate change associated events and extremes and accumulated suggestion for disaster preparedness, improvement in cyclone warning signal and modification for gender friendly design of cyclone shelters. Key suggestions also been assessed in line with climate change coping, adaptation and mitigation directly from the climate vulnerable community. The study analyzed national climate change policies with GIA tool and the finding shows the national adaptation policy documents are gender exclusive. The study finally provided recommendations in line with gender just climate change adaptation and mitigation and suggested ‘bottom up-top support’ institutional framework for gender mainstreaming.