Engendering Climate Change: Learnings from South Asia

Description

This book focuses on the gendered experiences of environmental change across different geographies and social contexts in South Asia and on diverse strategies of adapting to climate variability. The book analyzes how changes in rainfall patterns, floods, droughts, heatwaves and landslides affect those who are directly dependent on the agrarian economy. It examines the socio-economic pressures, including the increase in women’s work burdens both in production and reproduction on gender relations. It also examines coping mechanisms such as male migration and the formation of women’s collectives which create space for agency and change in rigid social relations. The volume looks at perspectives from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to present the nuances of gender relations across borders along with similarities and differences across geographical,socio-cultural and policy contexts. This book will be of interest to researchers and students of sociology, development, gender, economics, environmental studies and South Asian studies. It will also be useful for policymakers, NGOs and think tanks working in the areas of gender, climate change and development. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of figures List of tables List of contributors Foreword Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Gender, climate change and the politics of vulnerability: An introduction Introduction Gender and climate change: a view from South Asia Contributions to the volume Unpacking vulnerabilities: intersections of geography and social identity Adaptive strategies: agricultural diversification, migration and collective action Migration as adaptation Collective action and resilience Conclusion Note References Part I: Vulnerabilities Chapter 2: Vulnerabilities of rural women to climate extremes: A case of semi-arid districts in Pakistan Introduction Contextual background Evidence from the field: climate change and vulnerabilities for women Class matters Inter-generational dynamics and decision making Conclusion Notes References Chapter 3: Gendered vulnerabilities in Diaras : Struggles with floods in the Gandak river basin in Bihar, India Introduction Diaras: A land knee deep under water The socio-economic context and changing climatic conditions in West Champaran Understanding gendered vulnerabilities Gendered vulnerabilities in West Champaran “We need more men in our homes” Multiple vulnerabilities of work and migration Role of institutions in times of flood Conclusion: Surviving and adapting to change in the diaras Notes References Chapter 4: Of borewells and bicycles : The gendered nature of water access in Karnataka, South India and its implications for local vulnerability Introduction: water scarcity, social-ecological dynamics and gender Context and methodology Context Methodology Findings: the changing waterscape of Kolar Drought, water scarcity and climate variability in Kolar Changing livelihoods and natural resources in Kolar Changes in land use and cropping patterns Institutional shifts in water management: from the kere system to individual groundwater extraction Borewells and the atomization of water access for irrigation Bicycles and the informalization of drinking water access Implications of changing water access for gendered vulnerability and local adaptive capacity Notes References Annex 4 Chapter 5: Vulnerabilities and resilience of local women towards climate change in the Indus basin Introduction Gender and climate change in the Indus basin Study locations and methodology Women’s perception of climate change Impact of climate change on women in the upstream basin Women’s perception of climate change in the mid-stream basin High rainfall zone (Tehsil Murree) Medium rainfall zone (Chakri) Low rainfall zone (Tehsil Talagang) Women’s perception of climate change in the downstream basin Learning from women’s vulnerabilities and responses to the changing climate References Chapter 6: Climate change, gendered vulnerabilities and resilience in high mountain communities: The case of Upper Rasuwa in Gandaki River Basin, Hindu Kush Himalayas Introduction Research methodology and study area Conceptualizing gendered vulnerabilities Gender roles and responsibilities Transhumance herding, livestock and farming Eco-agro tourism, home stay and handicrafts Migration, social capital, finance Trade and other economic activities Saving and credit activities Gendered vulnerabilities, capabilities and adaptation Conclusion Notes References Part II: Adaptation and Wellbeing Chapter 7: Wells and well-being in South India : Gender dimensions of groundwater dependence Introduction Context and methodology Cropping patterns and divisions of labour Gendered assets Gold Livestock Borewells and indebtedness Household cooperation, conflict and decision making Female-headed households Groundwater and gendered well-being Notes References Chapter 8: Gender, migration and environmental change in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta in Bangladesh Introduction Unpacking migration Gendered migration patterns Environmental change and migration Gendered effects of environmental migration Investigating migration through a household survey Migration patterns in Bangladesh Who migrates, where, why and for how long? Displacement Effects of migration on migrant-sending areas Future environmental change and migration References Chapter 9: Women-headed households, migration and adaptation to climate change in the Mahanadi Delta, India Introduction The Mahanadi Delta Coastal hazard and migration Household survey: methodology and data analysis Women-headed households in the Mahanadi Delta Vulnerability and women-headed households Migration and women-headed households Adaptation and women-headed households Conclusion: women-headed households in climate change Notes References Annexure 9 Chapter 10: Gender dynamics and climate variability: Mapping the linkages in the Upper Ganga Basin in Uttarakhand, India Introduction Framework and methodology Overview of the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework – a gendered approach Data collection and analysis Study area Demographic profile Research findings and discussion Prevalence of climatic variability in the upper Ganga Basin People’s perception of climatic variability and its perceived impacts Perceived climatic variability in the plains Perceived climatic variability in mid- and high elevations Gendered institutions: the action arena Action situation 1: accessing water for domestic use Action situation 2: agriculture activities Exploring gender relation patterns in the three elevations Gendered institutions: dynamic, complex and diverse? Gendered rules, norms and rights: rigid, flexible or fluid? Social relations, position and mobility: inclusive, partially inclusive or exclusive for all? Willingness to learn, evolve and adapt to climatic variability: intrinsic or socially contingent? Conclusions Note References Chapter 11: Shaping gendered responses to climate change in South Asia Introduction An evolving gendered framework for climate change research Power across geographical locations: inter- and intra-household relations Communities and gendered impact of climate change: risk management through adaptive strategies Expanding the fiscal and governance framework in South Asia Building capacities for gendered research in climate change: unpacking methodology and epistemology References Index