11

Climate Change, Natural Climate Change, Natural Disasters and WomenDisasters and WomenLiz Riley, Deputy Coordinator Liz Riley, Deputy Coordinator (ag) (ag) Caribbean Disaster Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency Emergency Response Agency (CDERA)(CDERA)

Inter-American Commission of WomenInter-American Commission of WomenThirty-Fourth Assembly of DelegatesThirty-Fourth Assembly of DelegatesSantiago, ChileSantiago, ChileNovember 11, 2008November 11, 2008

22

Presentation Presentation OverviewOverview

CDERACDERA

Climate Change, Climate Climate Change, Climate Variability and Natural DisastersVariability and Natural Disasters

Impacts on Women Impacts on Women

Way forward: Platforms for Way forward: Platforms for ActionAction

33

What is CDERA?What is CDERA?

Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response AgencyAgency

Regional inter-governmental Disaster Regional inter-governmental Disaster Management Organization - Headquarters Management Organization - Headquarters in Barbadosin Barbados

Established in 1991 by Agreement of Established in 1991 by Agreement of regional Heads of Governmentregional Heads of Government

Main function is to make “immediate and Main function is to make “immediate and coordinated response” to disasters in coordinated response” to disasters in Participating States.Participating States.

Sixteen (16) Participating StatesSixteen (16) Participating States

44

55

Climate Change, Climate Change, Climate variability Climate variability

and natural disastersand natural disasters

66

Climate Change: “A change of climate which is Climate Change: “A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to attributed directly or indirectly to human activityhuman activity that that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is which is in addition to natural climate variability in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periodsobserved over comparable time periods””

Source: UNFCCCSource: UNFCCC

Climate variability: refers to Climate variability: refers to variations in the mean variations in the mean statestate and other statistics (such as standard deviations, and other statistics (such as standard deviations, the occurrence of extremes etc.) of the climate on all the occurrence of extremes etc.) of the climate on all spatial and temporal scales beyond that of individual spatial and temporal scales beyond that of individual weather events. weather events.

Source: IPCCSource: IPCC

Disaster: A serious disruption of the functioning of a Disaster: A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resourcesto cope using its own resources..

Source: ISDRSource: ISDR

DefinitionsDefinitions

77

SOURCE: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Database 2008

88

SOURCE: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Database 2008

99

Selected Hazard Selected Hazard Impacts in the Impacts in the CaribbeanCaribbean

TIMETIME PLACEPLACE DISASTERDISASTER IMPACTIMPACT19881988 JamaicaJamaica Hurricane Hurricane

GilbertGilbert65% GDP65% GDP

19891989 5 5 countriescountries

Hurricane Hurricane HugoHugo

US$412 MUS$412 M

19991999 DominicaDominica Hurricane Hurricane LennyLenny

53% GDP53% GDP

20042004 Haiti & DRHaiti & DR FloodingFlooding 270 deaths270 deaths

20042004 GrenadaGrenada Hurricane IvanHurricane Ivan US$895 MUS$895 M

20042004 JamaicaJamaica Hurricane IvanHurricane Ivan US$592 MUS$592 M

20052005 GuyanaGuyana FloodingFlooding 60% GDP60% GDP

Various sources: Collated by CDERA

1010

Climate change Climate change impactsimpacts

Sea Level Rise – IPCC 3Sea Level Rise – IPCC 3rdrd Assessment Report avg Assessment Report avg 5.0mm/yr over the 215.0mm/yr over the 21stst Century Century

Temperature increases: 11 of the 12 warmest Temperature increases: 11 of the 12 warmest years on record have occurred in the last 12 years on record have occurred in the last 12 years. If concentrations of all GHG and aerosols years. If concentrations of all GHG and aerosols kept constant at 2000 levels, further warming of kept constant at 2000 levels, further warming of 0.1degrees C would be expected *0.1degrees C would be expected *

‘‘Very likely” that extreme heat events and heavy Very likely” that extreme heat events and heavy precipitation will become more frequent*precipitation will become more frequent*

‘‘Likely” that future tropical cyclones will become Likely” that future tropical cyclones will become more intense with larger peak wind speeds and more intense with larger peak wind speeds and more heavy precipitation*more heavy precipitation*

* 4th IPCC Assessment Report

1111

Climate change Climate change impactsimpacts

Actions to address current climate variability are Actions to address current climate variability are the first steps towards addressing climate the first steps towards addressing climate change adaptation for the future change adaptation for the future

Climate change impacts will vary from country Climate change impacts will vary from country to country, region to region, may also vary from to country, region to region, may also vary from community to community since impacts are community to community since impacts are linked to existing vulnerabilitieslinked to existing vulnerabilities

Climate change, climate variability and natural Climate change, climate variability and natural disasters are development issuesdisasters are development issues

1212

Overarching context – social Overarching context – social dimensions of natural hazard dimensions of natural hazard impacts and climate changeimpacts and climate change– Susceptibility vs resilienceSusceptibility vs resilience

How do natural How do natural disasters and climate disasters and climate change affect women? change affect women?

1313

Framework for the social Framework for the social dimension of dimension of vulnerabilityvulnerability

Exposure to natural disaster

Nation

(Individual,

Household or

Community)

Social Susceptibility Social Resilience

Measure of social vulnerability

SOURCE: Kambon, 2005

1414

Differential vulnerability of males and Differential vulnerability of males and females to natural disaster and climate females to natural disaster and climate change impacts are reflective of their change impacts are reflective of their socially constructed rolessocially constructed roles

Responses of males and females to Responses of males and females to disaster differdisaster differ

How do natural How do natural disasters and climate disasters and climate change affect women? change affect women?

1515

Women’s roles result in Women’s roles result in …… Limited access to resources including Limited access to resources including

credit, extension services, information credit, extension services, information and technologyand technology

Limited mobility – linked to burden of Limited mobility – linked to burden of carecare

Insecure land tenure Insecure land tenure

Limited access to information, training Limited access to information, training and capacity building initiatives and capacity building initiatives

1616

Women’s roles result in Women’s roles result in …… Do not receive adequate information on Do not receive adequate information on

hazards and risks and the links to natural hazards and risks and the links to natural resource use and environmental resource use and environmental sustainability to the same extent as mensustainability to the same extent as men

Limited access to decision-making and Limited access to decision-making and leadership positions leadership positions

Unequal value given to paid work by women Unequal value given to paid work by women

Women make up a large number of the poor Women make up a large number of the poor in communities highly dependent on local in communities highly dependent on local natural resources for livelihoodnatural resources for livelihood

1717

Some key impacts …Some key impacts …

May require additional support eg. to respond to early May require additional support eg. to respond to early warnings due to limited mobility warnings due to limited mobility

Higher mortality rates: 2004 Indian Tsunami female Higher mortality rates: 2004 Indian Tsunami female mortality 3 – 4 X that of men in some communitiesmortality 3 – 4 X that of men in some communities

Inability or reduced ability to fulfill the role as Inability or reduced ability to fulfill the role as providers of food water and fuel eg. Drought providers of food water and fuel eg. Drought

Lose their jobs and have no means of securing Lose their jobs and have no means of securing compensation where such recovery programmes exist: compensation where such recovery programmes exist: eg. Hurricane Ivan Grenada 60 – 70% of workers in the eg. Hurricane Ivan Grenada 60 – 70% of workers in the informal sector were womeninformal sector were women

Constrained potential for recovery in the aftermath of Constrained potential for recovery in the aftermath of disasters due in part to insecure land tenuredisasters due in part to insecure land tenure

1818

Selected Examples: Selected Examples:

Case StudyCase Study

GrenadaGrenada

Hurricane Ivan 2004Hurricane Ivan 2004

1919

2020

Map Of Grenada, Carriacou Map Of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martiniqueand Petit Martinique

2121

Impacted Grenada on September Impacted Grenada on September 7, 2004 7, 2004

Category 3 HurricaneCategory 3 Hurricane 115 mile per hour winds115 mile per hour winds

Hurricane Ivan 2004Hurricane Ivan 2004

2222

Caribbean Case Study – Caribbean Case Study – Grenada, Hurricane Ivan 2004Grenada, Hurricane Ivan 2004

Pre Event Conditions:Pre Event Conditions: A relatively high elderly dependency ratio of A relatively high elderly dependency ratio of

31.8 per cent; Elderly 61+, 26.5 per cent of 31.8 per cent; Elderly 61+, 26.5 per cent of population;population;

The poorest fifth of the population had The poorest fifth of the population had reported first childbirth between the ages of reported first childbirth between the ages of 10-19. Teenage fertility rate 16.3 per cent;10-19. Teenage fertility rate 16.3 per cent;

Post-Event Impact:Post-Event Impact: Burden of care increasedBurden of care increased

Source: Grenada: A Gender Impact Assessment Of Hurricane Ivan – Making the Invisible Visible, UNECLAC and UNIFEM 2005

2323

Pre Event Conditions:Pre Event Conditions: Informal sector: 60 – 70% femaleInformal sector: 60 – 70% female 32% of the population unemployed 32% of the population unemployed 28.8% of households defined as poor and 10.3% 28.8% of households defined as poor and 10.3%

of households classified as indigent;of households classified as indigent; 48% of women-headed households are among 48% of women-headed households are among

poor women, 52 per cent of women head poor women, 52 per cent of women head households;households;

Post Event Impacts:Post Event Impacts: Direct impact on rural household incomeDirect impact on rural household income Increase in women’s vulnerabilities related to Increase in women’s vulnerabilities related to

access to land and care services and income for access to land and care services and income for themselves and children themselves and children

Women de-prioritizing the level of abuse in their Women de-prioritizing the level of abuse in their lives – to their needs for shelter, food and incomelives – to their needs for shelter, food and income

Caribbean Case Study – Caribbean Case Study – Grenada, Hurricane Ivan Grenada, Hurricane Ivan 20042004Source: Grenada: A Gender Impact Assessment Of Hurricane Ivan

– Making the Invisible Visible, UNECLAC and UNIFEM 2005

2424

Resilience of WomenResilience of Women– storytelling to children by storytelling to children by

women as a coping mechanismwomen as a coping mechanism– One-pot cooks – community One-pot cooks – community

spiritspirit

Caribbean Case Study – Caribbean Case Study – Grenada, Hurricane Ivan Grenada, Hurricane Ivan 20042004

Source: Grenada: A Gender Impact Assessment Of Hurricane Ivan – Making the Invisible Visible, UNECLAC and UNIFEM 2005

2525

Climate change adaptation Climate change adaptation specific areas where gender specific areas where gender specific aspects should be specific aspects should be addressedaddressed EnergyEnergy WaterWater Food securityFood security AgricultureAgriculture FisheriesFisheries Biodiversity and ecosystem servicesBiodiversity and ecosystem services HealthHealth IndustryIndustry Human settlementsHuman settlements Disaster management Disaster management Conflict and securityConflict and security

SOURCE: Kambon, 2008

2626

Way Forward: Way Forward: Platforms for Action Platforms for Action

1.1. POLICY, LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AND POLICY, LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AND PLANNINGPLANNING: Mainstreaming of gender : Mainstreaming of gender perspectives into national policies, plans, perspectives into national policies, plans, legislation and other measures including those legislation and other measures including those related to sustainable development and related to sustainable development and climate change. Gender policy integration into climate change. Gender policy integration into recovery planning recovery planning

Caribbean Regional Strategy for Caribbean Regional Strategy for Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) – Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) – Views gender as a critical cross cutting issueViews gender as a critical cross cutting issue

2727

COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT (CDM)MANAGEMENT (CDM)

OUTPUTSOUTPUTSOUTPUTSOUTPUTSOUTPUTSOUTPUTSOUTPUTSOUTPUTS

OUTCOME 4:OUTCOME 4:

Enhanced Enhanced community community resilience in CDERA resilience in CDERA states/ territories states/ territories to mitigate and to mitigate and respond to the respond to the adverse effects of adverse effects of climate change and climate change and disastersdisasters

OUTCOME 3:OUTCOME 3:

Disaster Risk Disaster Risk Management has Management has been mainstreamed been mainstreamed at national levels at national levels and incorporated and incorporated into key sectors of into key sectors of national economies national economies (including tourism, (including tourism, health agriculture health agriculture and nutrition)and nutrition)

OUTCOME 2:OUTCOME 2:

An effective An effective mechanism and mechanism and programme for programme for management of management of comprehensive comprehensive disaster disaster management management knowledge has knowledge has been establishedbeen established

PURPOSEPURPOSE

To strengthen regional, national and community level capacity for mitigation, management, and coordinated response to natural and technological hazards, and the effects of climate change. OUTCOME 1:OUTCOME 1:

Enhanced Enhanced institutional institutional support for CDM support for CDM Program Program implementation implementation at national and at national and regional levelsregional levels

GOAL GOAL

Regional Sustainable Development enhanced through CDMRegional Sustainable Development enhanced through CDM

Programme Framework

2828

Way Forward: Way Forward: Platforms for ActionPlatforms for Action

3.3. GENDER INFUSED INFORMATION FOR DECISION GENDER INFUSED INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKINGMAKING- - Does the information which informs policy decisions Does the information which informs policy decisions reflect a gender lens?reflect a gender lens?

3.3. FINANCIALFINANCIAL– Flexibility of (eg. Post disaster) financing Flexibility of (eg. Post disaster) financing

mechanisms to reflect women’s needs and prioritiesmechanisms to reflect women’s needs and priorities

– Gender analysis of all budget lines and financial Gender analysis of all budget lines and financial instruments for climate change essential to ensure instruments for climate change essential to ensure gender-sensitive investments on programmes for gender-sensitive investments on programmes for adaptation, mitigation, technological transfer and adaptation, mitigation, technological transfer and capacity building capacity building

2929

Way Forward: Way Forward: Platforms for ActionPlatforms for Action

4.4. GOVERNANCE:GOVERNANCE: Participation of women in Participation of women in decision making processes on natural decision making processes on natural disasters and climate change – creation of disasters and climate change – creation of opportunities; inclusivenessopportunities; inclusiveness

5.5. ENABLING ACTIVITES FOR ENABLING ACTIVITES FOR PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION

– Increasing the understanding of natural Increasing the understanding of natural hazard risk and the potential implications hazard risk and the potential implications of climate changeof climate change

– Equal access for women to training, Equal access for women to training, credit and skills development credit and skills development programmes to ensure full participationprogrammes to ensure full participation

3030

Way ForwardWay Forward

View women as agents of changeView women as agents of change

(Indigenous) knowledge and (Indigenous) knowledge and expertise can used assist in expertise can used assist in climate change mitigation and climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and disaster adaptation strategies and disaster risk reductionrisk reduction

3131

Thank You!Thank You!

Questions?Questions?

Contact Information

Email: lizriley@cdera.org

Telephone: 246-425-0386