ABSTRACT
There is a tendency to view climate change as a universal problem influencing everyone alike, a viewpoint that leads to ignorance of the socio-cultural dimensions of the phenomenon. Climate change is a process that has ‘differential impact’ on some sections of society, especially those who are dependent on nature for their livelihoods, i.e., women. Despite the presence of a large contingent of women members, ministers and NGOs during subsequent meetings of the UNFCCC, gender issues have not been properly taken up. The absence of gender issues from the climate change discourse and debates until the recent past has the potential to mar the efforts at adaptation and mitigation strategies towards climate change. Keeping in view the fact that women can act as key persons bringing about ‘climate-resilient’ changes, this chapter focuses on the exclusion of women from the climate change discourse and actions. At the same time, the chapter attempts to identify the areas where women can play a significant role. Taking examples from the field of agriculture, energy and forest, it further highlights the role of women in climate change processes and actions.
