Women and Girls’ Vulnerability to Climate Change: Gender-Based Policy Strategies for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Climate change which is a change in weather taking the form of rising sea levels, shifting rain patterns, drought and flooding affect both men and women. However, the impacts of climate change on these sexes differ just as their expected roles in the society differ. Female folks face the brunt of climate change more than their male counterpart due largely to their differentiated roles; sources of livelihood, level of education which combines and shape their abilities to cope with climate change impacts. From all indications the Nigerian government’s climate change policy has not acknowledged the different impacts of climate change on male and female sexes to incorporate gender-based policies and programmes to boost women and girls’ ability to cope with climate change vulnerability. The paper aims at examining the impact of climate change on the female gender, and recommends the incorporation of a gender-based approach in the national policies and programmes to ease the impact of the changing climate on the female folks for the attainment of sustainable development and better livelihood.