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About this brief
On the realities of gender inclusion in climate change policies in Nepal
Brief about:
Journal Article (2021)
Written by:
Other researchers:
Climate change impacts are felt globally but not equally with especially women being most vulnerable. The climate change and related policies in Nepal have not been able to balance the odds.
The review delved into the issue of how climate change and related policy documents in Nepal have addressed the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change.
What it means
Women play a key role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. For instance, women play a key role in managing and collecting traditional biomass (Mahat 2013) which accounts for 77% of energy consumption in Nepal (GoN/MoPE 2017). Here, the lack of women’s role in climate change mitigation planning impacts the formulation of effective mitigation strategies. Likewise, women harbour knowledge and skills to take action in the processes of natural resources management, adaptation, and risk reduction (Carvajal-Escobar, Quintero-Angel, and Garcia-Vargas 2008). However, the policies also appear to be missing out on the appreciation of the knowledge and skills of women that are crucial for orienting forward the adaptation processes.
The research would thereby be important for gender and climate change policies recommendation especially in South Asia as policies often portray women as the vulnerable and not the agency.
Key findings
- Out of the 24-climate change related policies reviewed, 5 were found to be gender-blind, 15 were found to be gender-neutral, 3 were found to be gender-specific, and only 1 was found to be gender-transformative.What it means
This shows a clear lack of gender-transformative policy development.
- Gender-specific policies that have been formulated thus far have failed to address barriers such as lack of access to information and decision-making authority, and bureaucratic administrative procedures that have discouraged women participation.What it means
We recommend gender-transformative policy development as it has been made clear that unless prevalent structural inequalities are addressed, the vulnerable cannot adapt to climate change impacts.
Proposed action
- Policies need to address prevalent structural inequalities and specific social barriers such as lack of access to information and decision-making authority, and bureaucratic administrative procedures that have discouraged women participation
- Women need to be recognised as the agency and not just the vulnerable population
- The collection of gender-disaggregated data in all sectors related to climate change needs to be promoted to prevent the formation of gender-blind policies
- Women should be included in the agenda-setting or policy formulation stage with the focus on improving women’s qualitative participation to influence decisions and practices while promoting their numerical representation
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to iDE Global
These insights were made available thanks to the support of iDE Global, who are committed to the dissemination of knowledge for all.
Special thanks to Arianne Zajac for preparation assistance
We would like to extend a special thank you to Arianne Zajac, for their invaluable contribution in assisting the preparation of this research summary.
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On the realities of gender inclusion in climate change policies in Nepal
Cite this brief: Rai, Anu. 'On the realities of gender inclusion in climate change policies in Nepal'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/on-the-realities-of-gender-inclusion-in-climate-change-policies-in-nepal/
Brief created by: Anu Rai | Year brief made: 2022
Original research:
- D. P. A., Rai, A., & et al., ‘On the realities of gender inclusion in climate change policies in Nepal’ 4(4) (pp. 501–516) https://doi.org/10.1080/25741292.2021.1935643. – https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/25741292.2021.1935643?tab=permissions&scroll=top
Research brief:
Climate change impacts are felt globally but not equally with especially women being most vulnerable. The climate change and related policies in Nepal have not been able to balance the odds.
The review delved into the issue of how climate change and related policy documents in Nepal have addressed the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change.
Findings:
Out of the 24-climate change related policies reviewed, 5 were found to be gender-blind, 15 were found to be gender-neutral, 3 were found to be gender-specific, and only 1 was found to be gender-transformative.
This shows a clear lack of gender-transformative policy development.
Gender-specific policies that have been formulated thus far have failed to address barriers such as lack of access to information and decision-making authority, and bureaucratic administrative procedures that have discouraged women participation.
We recommend gender-transformative policy development as it has been made clear that unless prevalent structural inequalities are addressed, the vulnerable cannot adapt to climate change impacts.
Advice:
Policies need to address prevalent structural inequalities and specific social barriers such as lack of access to information and decision-making authority, and bureaucratic administrative procedures that have discouraged women participation
Women need to be recognised as the agency and not just the vulnerable population
The collection of gender-disaggregated data in all sectors related to climate change needs to be promoted to prevent the formation of gender-blind policies
Women should be included in the agenda-setting or policy formulation stage with the focus on improving women’s qualitative participation to influence decisions and practices while promoting their numerical representation
Extra:
Women play a key role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. For instance, women play a key role in managing and collecting traditional biomass (Mahat 2013) which accounts for 77% of energy consumption in Nepal (GoN/MoPE 2017). Here, the lack of women’s role in climate change mitigation planning impacts the formulation of effective mitigation strategies. Likewise, women harbour knowledge and skills to take action in the processes of natural resources management, adaptation, and risk reduction (Carvajal-Escobar, Quintero-Angel, and Garcia-Vargas 2008). However, the policies also appear to be missing out on the appreciation of the knowledge and skills of women that are crucial for orienting forward the adaptation processes.
The research would thereby be important for gender and climate change policies recommendation especially in South Asia as policies often portray women as the vulnerable and not the agency.