BCCIC Panel presentation for International Development Week 2019
Host: Dr. Joanna Ashworth Panelists: Dr. Zafar Adeel, Dr. Leila Harris, Ocean Hyland Moderator: Sophia Yang
Skip ahead:
0:10:37 – Q1 How are people involved in the betterment of women in the climate change context around the world?
0:29:42 – Q2: Why is the connection between refugees and climate change not being talked about more? What are the particular impacts of climate change on refugee women?
0:35:57 – Q3: What are some examples of gender impacts in the developmental context? How are women experiencing climate change differently than men around the world?
0:47:06 – Q4: How is climate change being felt uniquely by women in your community, and other indigenous communities in Canada or around the world? How is indigenous women’s leadership showing up in climate action?
1:03:54 – Q5: What are some of the things that Canadians can do on a local level to engage with the climate change challenges faced by refugees, and how can we further educate people on this issue?
1:08:58 – Key takeaway messages
Climate change is the most pressing issue of our time, and it is deeply interconnected with other major problems we face as a global society. We face social challenges, such as waves of displacement and migration around the world due to conflict and economic hardship exacerbated by poor environmental conditions. We face acute threats to biodiversity and ecosystems that fundamentally support life on our planet as we know it, as well as pressure on natural resources that power our economies and ways of life.
Through all of these issues, we see a common thread of differentiated impacts for women – climate change can worsen existing gender-based inequities that keep women impoverished and marginalized. With increased stresses we see violence against women who are refugees or environmental advocates, as well as economic conditions that leave women in poverty.
At the same time, women are stepping up to lead on climate change issues, and focused efforts to consider gender in climate initiatives are creating new paths to progress. Indigenous women are asserting leadership in their communities as protectors of nature and culture. Young women are showing up and speaking up to push society toward a livable future that they have a direct stake in. Women are stepping forward in all areas, including to support the issues of people who are gender minorities, and men are also supporting initiatives that focus on gender as a way to address some of the worst aspects of climate change impacts.
This event seeks to explore examples of how people of different genders are uniquely and specifically impacted by climate change, as well as the kinds of leadership that are needed to address these interconnected challenges we face as a global society.
Organizers and Sponsors: BCCIC, SFU International, UBC School of Economics, UBC ORICE, Women Deliver Mobilization, Amnesty International, Canadian Association of International Development Professionals (CAIDP)