Global Climate Resilience Fund

Context

• The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) along with the SEWA, and other organisations announced a 50 million-dollar Global Climate Resilience Fund for women. 

About

• Global Climate Resilience Fund:
  • The fund will empower women and communities to fight climate change and help provide new livelihood resources and education.
  • It aims to provide solutions to the problems of women working under the sun, especially for workers in the informal sector like construction, waste recycling, plastic, farming, etc. 
  • The fund brings together a group of concerned people like the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Rockefeller Resilience Centre, Desai Foundation, the AI Gore Foundation, Council for Inclusive Capitalism, and the American India Foundation.
  • The members do not have to pay insurance premiums and during extreme heat conditions when one does not work, this insurance will provide regular income.
• Clinton Global Initiative:
  • The CGI is a membership-based organization that brings together leaders from across the business, government, and nonprofit sectors to drive action on global challenges.

Challenges faced by women due to Climate Change

• Reduced Economic Opportunities: Climate change can disrupt livelihoods, particularly in communities relying on agriculture or fishing, resulting in reduced economic opportunities for women.
• Forced Migration: Climate-related natural disasters and rising sea levels can result in migration, which can lead to increased insecurity for women.
• Water Scarcity: The girls and women are traditionally allotted tasks of collecting firewood and water and are asked to travel for long distances to provide for their families.
• Health Risks: Climate change can facilitate the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue and negatively affect women’s reproductive health.
• Food Insecurity: Climate change affects agriculture and leads to food shortages, women and children are often the first to suffer from hunger.
• Increased Care Responsibilities: Climate change exacerbates existing gender inequalities and increases the care responsibilities for women, who are often in charge of their family’s health and well-being.

Way Ahead

• To address the challenges faced by women due to climate change, the following solutions can be implemented:
  • Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Climate-resilient infrastructure, including clean water systems, improved agriculture methods, and disaster-resistant housing, can help alleviate the effects of climate change on women.
  • Climate-Smart Agriculture: Adopting climate-smart agriculture techniques, like conservation agriculture and agroforestry, can increase food security and reduce the effects of climate change on women’s livelihoods.
  • Economic Empowerment for Women: Women should have access to resources and opportunities, such as education and job training, to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change. Eg. Mudra Yojana
  • Care Work Support: Providing support for care work, such as paid leave and child care, can ease the burden on women and enable them to participate in climate-related activities.
  • Gender-Inclusive Strategies: Climate change policies and initiatives should consider the unique needs and experiences of women.
  • Reproductive and Health Rights: Ensuring access to reproductive health services and family planning can help women adapt to the impacts of climate change. Eg. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan 
  • The Government schemes like UJJwala and Har Ghar Jal scheme can help fight women’s challenges regarding water scarcity and the collection of wood.

Source: IE