Warming Mountains: Gendered Implications for Livelihood and Sustainability

Climate change is a global phenomenon which is causing extreme weather conditions. These conditions are impacting the lives and livelihoods of people in numerous ways. Mountains and mountain people are frequently more vulnerable to these changes and events. Glaciers are melting rapidly, causing floods in the river, soil erosion, droughts, and sedimentation, thereby influencing negatively the lives of mountain people. These events are not new, but the frequency has been increased due to changing climate as indicated by recent studies. The consequences of such extreme events on human lives are very devasting. It affects not only human lives but also the livelihood attached to them. Further, it results in food insecurity, resource damage, and halting communications and influencing infrastructure. It is evident from the research that the mountainous regions, particularly South Asia and the Hindukush Himalaya (HKH) region, are more vulnerable to climate change-related risks. The effects of these events are not gender-neutral. They impact women, men, and different segments of society differently due to their preexisting differences based on caste, class, ethnicity, (dis)ability, and geographical location. When these factors intersect with gender roles, responsibilities, conditions, and positions within the family, community, and broader society, they make people privileged or vulnerable during and after disasters and emergencies. For instance, the world’s majority resource less and poor are women (70%), and disasters pose more consequences for women who are predominantly at risk with no or less capacity to respond. Disasters often intensify inequalities and reinforce disparities among women and marginalized groups regarding exposure and capacities for preparedness and response. Lack of access and ownership over productive resources, information, and technology aggravates the sufferings. Moreover, women are more vulnerable before, during, and after disasters because they are disadvantaged in terms of political, legal, economic, and social fronts. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze gendered implications for the livelihood and sustainability in the backdrop of climate change and warming mountains. This chapter attempts to address the issue and bring solutions for decision-makers and practitioners.