THE CONTEXT: Thirty years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, India has made progress in strengthening women’s rights through various laws and policies. However, the Beijing India Report 2024 (Beijing+30) reveals critical gaps, especially in linking gender issues with climate change. Given that rural women face compounded vulnerabilities—from drought-induced resource scarcity to increased risk of violence—integrating a “gender-climate” perspective is crucial for achieving sustainable development and bridging inequities.
THE MISSING GENDER-CLIMATE NEXUS IN THE BEIJING INDIA REPORT 2024
Why Does This Report Lack a Strong Link Between Climate and Gender?
| Core Gap | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Limited Focus on Gender-Specific Impacts | The report does not adequately highlight how climate change uniquely burdens women, especially in rural settings. | Ignores increased hardship in water and fuel collection during droughts. |
| Insufficient Data on Gendered Vulnerabilities | There is a lack of disaggregated data reflecting how women are disproportionately affected by climate disasters, migration, and resource scarcity. | Overlooks the link between climate-induced migration and vulnerability to gender-based violence. |
| Absence of Gender-Responsive Climate Policies | The report fails to provide actionable strategies to integrate gender in climate governance and adaptation planning. | No proposals for promoting women’s leadership in agricultural adaptation or local climate plans. |
What Challenges Do Rural Women Face Due to Gender Inequality and Climate Change?
| Challenge | Impact on Rural Women | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Education Disruption | Migration and caregiving duties push girls out of school. | Girls in Dhanelikanhar (Chhattisgarh) drop out due to displacement caused by climate-induced migration. |
| Unpaid Care Work | Scarcity of resources increases care burdens, reducing time for economic participation. | Arsht-Rock report: Rural women work 8+ hours/day, 71% unpaid. |
| Health Vulnerability | Lack of nutrition, anaemia, and poor reproductive health worsened by climate stress. | Over 50% of pregnant women anaemic; food-insecure women 1.6x more likely to suffer anaemia. |
| Livelihood Loss | Agriculture and non-farm work suffer due to erratic climate events. | Women lose up to 33% income due to climate disruptions in rural economies. |
| Exposure to Violence | Displacement and stress aggravate risks of intimate partner violence. | Each 1°C rise leads to 8% more physical and 7.3% more sexual violence (study data). |
Why Is a Gender-Climate Lens Vital for India’s Sustainable Future?
| Dimension | Importance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusive Policy Design | Tailoring climate policies to women’s realities ensures more effective outcomes. | Only 6% of global climate policies mention women—risking exclusion in Indian rural policies. |
| Strengthening Resilience | Women’s traditional knowledge aids climate adaptation at community level. | Rural women conserve climate-resilient seeds critical for food security. |
| Reducing Inequality | Gender-responsive budgeting helps close service and resource gaps. | Without action, women’s unpaid work could rise to 8.3 hours/day by 2050. |
| Boosting Food Security | Gender equity in agriculture increases productivity and food access. | Closing gender gaps could raise yields by 20–30%, feeding 100–150 million more people. |
| Empowering Local Leadership | Women-led climate actions foster innovation and localized resilience. | SHGs act as first responders in climate-hit regions and promote eco-practices. |
STEPS TAKEN BY INDIAN GOVERNMENT
| Domain | Action Taken | Example |
|---|---|---|
| National Climate Frameworks | Gender concerns are acknowledged in NAPCC and some SAPCCs. | SAPCCs mention women’s role in sustainable agriculture and water schemes. |
| Legal and Policy Empowerment | Acts like DV Act & POSH intersect with climate resilience by enabling safe public participation. | These create enabling environments for women to engage in climate-linked activities. |
| Promotion of Women-Led Livelihoods | Missions like NRLM train women in sustainable and climate-resilient livelihoods. | Women in Odisha, Chhattisgarh trained in eco-farming and forest-based value chains. |
WHERE SHOULD POLICIES AND BUDGETS FOCUS?
| Strategic Focus | Suggested Intervention | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gender-Responsive Climate Budgeting | Integrate separate budget lines for women in climate finance schemes. | Dedicated allocations for disaster relief, eco-livelihoods for women in vulnerable zones. |
| Climate Education & Skill Building | Train women in green jobs and sustainable practices. | Programs for solar panel installation and organic farming training for rural women. |
| Support Hubs & Safety Services | Create women-centric centres offering health, safety, and disaster support. | Establish climate support hubs in flood-prone Assam for women’s well-being. |
| Non-Farm Livelihood Diversification | Build income resilience through alternative economic opportunities. | Promote mushroom farming or tailoring units in drought-hit Bundelkhand. |
| Inclusion in Governance | Institutionalize women’s role in climate policy and planning bodies. | Mandate women in State/District Climate Action Committees in MP and Jharkhand. |
THE CONCLUSION:
The Beijing+30 process is a timely opportunity to mainstream the gender-climate nexus into India’s policy DNA. Rural women, though most vulnerable, are also powerful agents of change. A rights-based, gender-inclusive climate strategy — supported by robust data, political will, and grassroots participation — is essential for building an equitable, resilient, and sustainable India.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION:
Q. Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity, and women’s empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation? 2024
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. The Beijing+30 Report lacks a robust gender-climate lens. Critically analyse the importance of integrating gender in climate policy and governance in India.
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