A Case Study on Adaptation and Resilience to Water Related Hazards: Analyzing Gendered Responses to Climate Change in Yunnan Province, China

Transcription

1 A Case Study on Adaptation and Resilience to Water Related Hazards: Analyzing Gendered Responses to Climate Change in Yunnan Province, China Ms Neera Shrestha Pradhan and Dr Suman Bisht, ICIMOD Ms Su Yufang, KIB and Ms Zou Yahui (China) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Kathmandu, Nepal

2 Agenda Background Gendered research Preliminary findings Challenges and gaps Way forward

3 Background What is a Drought? Droughts originate from a deficiency of precipitation resulting from an unusual weather pattern. Droughts can be defined in four different ways (Shaw et al. 2011): 1. Meteorological: Effects of rainfall deficit over a period of time 2. Hydrological: Effects of rainfall deficit on the water cycle 3. Agricultural: Effects of rainfall deficit on food production and livestock. 4. Socioeconomic: Effects of droughts on costs and supply of economic goods, from food to electricity production etc.

4 Gender and Adaptation Why Gender matters? There are different: impacts that climate change has on men and women ways that men and women respond to and are able to cope with climate change in how they are able to shift from short term coping mechanisms to long term adaptation.

5 Case study in Yunnan Gendered study Objective of the research: To explore the different perceptions, impacts, responses and coping mechanisms as well as adaptive capacity of women and men in relation to agricultural practices and water use in Yunnan Province of China in the context of drought.

6 Research design Literature review Sample selection: purposive sample Focused group discussion (women, men) Key informant information Structured questionnaire Water maps / social maps

7 Vulnerability of women in rural China Source: UNWOMEN & Yukun Hu (2010) Vulnerability of Women in Rural China Socioeconomic inequalities Service sector/low pay Climate Change Male migration Feminization of agriculture Governance and decision making Lack formal land rights, marketing capabilities, investment capital and information Low participation in decision making process Discrimination in accessing shelter and medicare in extreme events More exposure due to dependency on natural resources

8 Study sites

9 Broader context Location Low elevation High elevation Communities Xinzhai Haitang Elevation (m) 950 (low) 2473 (high) No. of households Climate Hot, low precipitation, high evaporation Temperature trend Increasing Increasing Major stress as perceived by the community Major crops on irrigated land Major crops on rainfed land Water shortage in spring & Droughts 115ha: Coffee, paddy rice 155ha: maize, coffee Low temperatures, high precipitation, and low evaporation Water shortage in spring NA 116ha: Maize, barley, potato, beans, pepper, walnut Sites Selection Criteria: representativeness of the major agroecosystems in the area, climate and elevation, existence of water stresses and other climate change impacts Population trends Increasing Decreasing

10 Respondent s pattern Household survey Female Male total Xinzhai Haitang

11 Perception on causes of drought Environmental Changes Anthropogenic Activities Govt. policy Xinzhai less rain illegal logging, land reclamation tobacco and coffee plantation Haitang less rain, limited water source railway construction Tobacco plantation

12 Perception on future drought projections (Xinzhai and Haitang)

13 Coping Strategies: Agricultural practices

14 Adaptation Strategies: Agricultural practices

15 Coping Strategies: Domestic water use

16 Adaptation Strategies: Domestic water use

17 Challenges and gaps Policy: Gender aspects are rarely addressed in climate change policy; Science: There is little data, research, or case studies clarifying and exemplifying the linkages between gender and climate change; Implementation: Many people still find it difficult to link the ways in which gender might be an important factor in climate change/water related hazards, and not aware of how it should be addressed.

18 Way forward Final analysis Technical paper to support Evidence based information for informed decision making Awareness raising Policy implications

19 Thank you! For further information please contact: Neera Shrestha Pradhan Hazard and Community Adaptation Specialist ICIMOD

20 Vulnerability of women in rural China Socio-economic inequalities: As more rural men migrate for work, women are left behind as heads of households who bear the household burden and generate income. There is a trend of agricultural feminization, in some rural areas, 70-80% of agriculture labors are women. Women are concentrated in service-sector jobs, or work in rural areas for low pay. Feminization of poverty, in both rural and urban areas. Rural women s none paid work is 3 hours and 50 minutes per day, but man is only 1 hour and 9 minutes. Source: UNWOMEN & Yukun Hu (2010)

21 Contd. Governance and decision-making: The lower participation of women in decision-making processes. Although women make up 65% of the rural labor force, they occupy only 1-2 % of local decision-making positions. 70% of landless people in rural areas are women, who also lack formal land rights, marketing capabilities, investment capital and the information. Climate change Existing inequalities, limited access to resources, restricted rights, and the lack of women s voices in decision-making increases women s vulnerability. Poor women are especially exposed because of their dependence on natural resources for their livelihoods, and face discrimination in accessing shelter and medical care.

22 Meteorological Drought Meteorological droughts are characterised by a rainfall deficit over a period of time. The duration of the rainfall deficit affects differently hydrology, agriculture and other human activities. As an example: Long term droughts (months and years) affect the recharge of aquifers; Short term droughts (days, month) can have a negative impact on agriculture;

23 Hydrological Drought Hydrological drought focuses on the effects of rainfall deficits on the water cycle. Water in rivers and storage facilities is normally utilised for multiple purposes. In drought periods the competition for water use increases. Decreasing availability of water increases conflicts among users and can threaten habitats.

24 Agricultural and Socioeconomic Droughts Agricultural drought focuses on the effects of rainfall deficits on food production and livestock. Socioeconomic drought focuses on the effects of droughts on costs and supply of economic goods, from food to electricity production,...

25 Patterns of change Yields from agricultural crops dropped significantly in all villages studied, eg. spring crops (barley, beans, potato) experienced huge yield losses (70-100%) Not only were incomes for production reduced by yield losses experienced, but the prices of key consumer products rose, multiplying the pressures on households Production in forest related products were impacted depending on tree species, the age of trees planted, their location and access to water.