13. Gender and Climate Change in Australia and the Pacific

Climate change has emerged as one of the most significant global threats of the twenty-first century. Characterised by both incremental events such as drought and desertification, and catastrophic events such as floods, bushfires and cyclones, climate change has resulted in major social, economic and environmental consequences. To date attention has focused largely in the science of climate change and the economic consequences of declining or eroded resources. Inadequate attention to social consequences is having significant impacts on vulnerable populations. The gendered consequences of these events have only recently emerged as a major factor of international concern. This paper presents findings from work undertaken in the Murray-Darling Basin area of Australia where drought and declining water availability has had significant social and gendered consequences. It also presents findings from work underway in the Pacific region where sea level rises, temperature changes and declining infrastructure and productivity is having major social impacts and exacerbating and changing existing gender inequalities. The paper notes that in both developed and developing nations, in areas of incremental and catastrophic climate events, gender is a major factor in vulnerability, resilience and adaptation. It notes the need for gender to be a significant feature of policy and planning in relation to climate events.