Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nafees
Climate change affects women, men, children, and the elderly in different ways and requires attention and treatment in different manner. Such as temperature variation, humidity, floods, heat wave and droughts. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Policy-2022 on Climate Change has included several clauses mentioning the importance of women and special measures to protect them. Policy initiatives for health, disasters, and gender balance are all part of this. Some important aspects are highlighted in this article.
Physiographic consideration: Climate change impacts vary from place to place due to the diversity of Pakistan’s geography. For example, the KP climate change policy – 2022 divides Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into four climatic zones. The northern high mountains are regarded as the first zone to experience glacier melt and flooding. The second zone includes the semi-humid eastern mountains. Haripur, Mansehra, and Abbottabad are all part of this zone. The region is well-known for its high temperatures, heat waves, floods, and droughts. Women’s activities in this zone are different from those in the first zone, which will lead to different mitigation and adaptation measures. The third zone consists of Peshawar, Charsadda Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, and Hangu districts, also referred to as the central plain region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The mountains’ water is collected in this location, and the severity of the floods fluctuates. Further more, this area is also famous for its agricultural activities. In rural settings, women are part of agriculture. Therefore, women in this area are affected by climate change, not only physically, but also economically. There is a wide range of activities in urban settings. In this regard, the impact on women is different, and their role is different in the secondary sense. The fourth zone is made up of the Piedmont plain found in the Sulimon mountain range. This zone includes Karak, Lucky Marwat, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan. These regions are known for droughts, water scarcity and heat waves with high temperatures.
Climate change and natural hazards: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s climate change policy includes comprehensive descriptions of various natural hazards and its effects on women. These effects are further subdivided into four climatic zones, as briefly mentioned above. The most important of these is the increase in temperature, which provides a basis for the rest of the effects. Rising temperatures not only have a negative impact on agriculture, but also on human health. The second most important factor is the fluctuation of rainfall levels. An increase in rainfall has been observed, particularly during the monsoon season. The negative consequences include floods, soil erosion, and a variety of seasonal diseases. Women and children are highly influenced by these diseases. The combined impact of floods and rising temperatures on agricultural output affects every individual in society. According to an estimate, agricultural production in Pakistan has decreased by 30% due to climate change. This decrease has influenced man and woman equally.
People are frequently displaced, either temporarily or permanently, as a result of climate change.. Due to this, their children and other family members are badly impacted. Further more, their mental and physical health starts to deteriorate. In this context, the climate change policy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been formulated regarding the health of women and their ability to fight climate change.
Need of Separate policy measures for Women’s health: It is obvious that Climate change has negative impacts on both, men and women. But women who are already impoverished or have poor health are more likely to be impacted more by the effects of climate change than men. Women have distinct health requirements. In which special diet components, rest and movement during pregnancy may vary adversely due to seasonal changes. According to a global population report, 1780 mothers per million die during delivery. In August 2022, the United Nations Population Fund estimated that there were 650,000 pregnant women in Pakistan’s flood-affected areas. In 2010, it was observed that the maternal mortality rate in Pakistan’s flood-affected areas was higher than 3810 per million. Apart from this, it is important to consider mental health also. About 34 percent of women in Pakistan are already suffering from depression. Climate change will intensify these issues, which require proper attention. If we look at drought, it directly influences men in terms of damage to crops and livestock. It cannot be said that drought does not influence women, or we can say that it will have an indirect effect on women. About 7.2 million women work in agriculture and are directly impacted by drought.
Globally, 1.3 billion people are classified as poor or middle-income, with women accounting for 70% of the total. According to the World Bank, 37.27 percent of Pakistan’s people are stuck in extreme poverty, which is about 90 million. About 75 percent of women do not have regular jobs and most of them are dependent on men. In addition, the mobility of men and women in the environment is different. For example, saving them during a flood, and/or taking them to the hospital on time. Climate change has severe impacts on women in such situations, and consequently, the measures taken for their health will be different..
Women’s involvement in decision making; The presence of women in the decisions made in this matter is essential, as only women can identify their needs properly. In this regard, the policy measures developed under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Policy on Climate Change, 2022 under Health are: “to inform, sensitize, educate and train about the factors involved”. Considering the effects of climate on different zones, this measure is very short anyway. A proper look is necessary during its implementation. For this, a comprehensive awareness campaign will be required, and appropriate awareness materials should be prepared about the needs of women in their respective zone. According to the second clause of the same policy, the role of women in reducing the effects of climate change has been clarified, and various steps have been identified. “Ensure that women are protected from the effects of climate change or that the risk they face is minimized by taking appropriate measures”. As women have an active role in the community, they have knowledge of water, energy, food, storage activities, as well as agrochemical handling and livestock management. This policy measure justifies equal participation of women during every stage of the decision-making process on climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. These two clauses of the policy are significant. If these clauses are implemented, then women will be able to play their role in legislative planning in addition to gaining the ability to deal with the negative effects of climate change.
Three more clauses have been added in the policy regarding women, as listed below. Develop gender-sensitive adaptation guidelines to assess and monitor women’s vulnerability to climate impacts and respond accordingly. Policy measures are needed to provide safety in disasters like floods, earthquakes, and landslides. Adequate evacuation plans will be made for women, children, the disabled and the elderly. It also includes strengthening forecasting, monitoring, early warning systems and evacuation planning for both humans and biodiversity (including livestock and fisheries), focusing on planning for vulnerable human populations: the elderly;, children, disabled and women; Ensuring community participation in the development process of such projects is an important provision of the policy.
Some Suggestions for Improvement: Climate Change Policy 2022 identifies and reflects women’s issues and their role. Nomad and transhumant (women and men) have been neglected in the policy that can be considered a deficiency. These are the people who have acquired different qualities by working in a unique ecosystem of mountain and desert conditions. Climate change will directly affect their income and health. There is a need to assess women’s health by planning first aid in normal situations as well as during disasters. At this time, it is impossible to say whether the current policy is adequate and complete regarding women’s health or not. Still, it can be suggested to analyze the past events and keep an eye on the upcoming events so that appropriate changes can be made in the policy and action plan at the appropriate time.
The Author is Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar
