Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) this week at the just-ended 12th Edition of the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) in Bulawayo clarified why women need to be at the centre of climate change actions in Zimbabwe as the global phenomenon continues to pose serious threats to the existence of communities.
Between 14 and 17 March 2019, communities in the eastern parts of Zimbabwe mainly Chimanimani and Chipinge, faced the brunt of Cyclone Idai which claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed properties, but it later emerged that women suffered more than men in the disaster.
Tracey Mutowekuziva, the CNRG Deputy Programmes Manager on Wednesday explained to a cosmopolitan audience at ZAMI why women need to be at the centre of climate change action based on the experiences of communities in Chimanimani and Chipinge.
Her presentation came after CNRG had a hands-on experience on the issue when it held a workshop in Mutare to commemorate victims of Cyclone Idai in Chipinge and Chimanimani.
The workshop was organised in partnership with CNRG’s TaCCET partners to commemorate the deaths and losses incurred by Chimanimani community members during Cyclone Idai- four years ago.
TaCCET stands for Tackling Climate Change and Energy Transitions Project (TaCCET-Zim). It is a climate justice consortium whose members are – Reyna Trust, Environmental Buddies, MACRAD, Young Entrepreneurs Trust, Green Governance, WONECA and CNRG which plays a coordination role.
Survivors and family members of the victims who died attended the workshop and gave testimonies which showed how women and girls were affected by the Climate Change disaster more than men and boys.
At the ZAMI Indaba, CNRG’s DPM Mutowekuziva escalated the issue.
“Climate change affects women, girls, and marginalized communities more than other groups. Therefore, it is important to involve them in the design and implementation of climate response actions. Women, in particular, possess valuable knowledge and experience, especially at the local level.
“Their inclusion in decision-making processes is crucial for effective climate action. When it comes to natural resource management, the participation of women at the local level is linked with better resource governance and conservation outcomes,” said
Mutowekuziva.
She added that for decades, women have been adapting to rapid environmental changes but however, but climate change now presents a new challenge to their ability to adapt, which serves as a measure of their community’s adaptive capacity. The CNRG’s DPM proffered recommendations on the way forward.
Obligation for Parliament, Stakeholders
“Parties, parliaments and environmental governance organizations should conduct gender audits in parties, parliaments and environmental governance organizations to understand the barriers to and opportunities for gender inclusion,” she said.
Policy Makers
Policymakers should centre local, Indigenous knowledge to ensure equity in environmental governance, and they should build climate resilience and adaptation models based on what women know and see in their communities, according to Mutowekuziva.
Government Institutions
“Institutions and governments must invest in young women and girls and ensure they have the space and confidence to participate in politics and activism. While many young women are already participating in climate activism, young women are among the most underrepresented groups in politics,” she said.
Mutowekuziva added:
“To ensure meaningful and informed participation: The government must make early-warning information regarding climate effects and natural disasters available to all sectors of society. Adaptation and mitigation plans should be publicly available, transparently financed and developed in consultation with affected groups.” It is clear that climate change has a negative impact on human rights, development, and social justice. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs states that governments have an obligation to mitigate climate change and prevent its negative effects on fundamental human rights.