Women at the Forefront: Rethinking Climate Policies through a Feminist Lens in Pakistan

Can climate change be best understood as a paradox where its impacts are unequal yet certain voices remain unheard?

In the labyrinth of climate change challenges, Pakistan finds itself at a crossroads where the urgency to address environmental crises intersects with the imperative to confront gender inequality. As the floodwaters rose in Karachi in 2020, inundated streets and homes marked a stark reminder of the desolate realities of the differential impact of climate change on communities. But how do these environmental shifts disproportionately affect women, especially those living in rural areas? Consider this: women are 14 times more likely to die in natural disasters than men. While the need for robust climate change policies was highlighted, so was gender sensitivity, an often-overlooked concept in mainstream discourse.

In the aftermath of the 2020 floods, Pakistan launched its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in July 2023, with gender and youth as purportedly central themes. However, the journey to inclusive climate policies in Pakistan is akin to walking on a tightrope, balancing amidst complex socio-political dynamics. Although the NAP has a chapter on gender, highlighting gender-sensitive adaptation techniques and acknowledging women’s susceptibility to climate change, implementation is still difficult. Similarly, in 2020, the establishment of the Gender and Climate Change Cell within the Ministry of Climate Change was a significant step towards integrating gender considerations into climate policies and programs. However, more concrete actions are still needed.

Research states that climate change exacerbates natural disasters, and hence international policies such as the Paris Agreement and the Conference of the Parties (COP) stress the need for inclusive strategies. Although significant progress has been made in Pakistan’s climate policy since 2020, issues still persist. Women’s engagement in climate-related decision-making is still hampered by established patriarchal beliefs sustained through hypermasculinity, as well as by a lack of resources and money for efforts tailored to certain genders. The creation of policies is frequently dominated by traditional masculinity, which places an emphasis on aggressive, competitive and short-term goals while ignoring community-based programs and care work. These patriarchal norms not only exacerbate but also overlook gender-based vulnerabilities, including limited access to resources, increased gender-based violence, limited mobility and autonomy and the very biology of women.

Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2022 include gender-sensitive climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, yet there is a lack of specific gender-focused actions. Similarly, regional strategies like the Sindh Climate Change Policy (2022) and the Punjab Climate Change Policy (2022) have made progress by recognizing women’s vulnerability to climate change and incorporating gender-sensitive approaches, but a gap still exists in concrete actions proving implementation. An innovative program called the Climate Change Gender Action Plan (ccGAP) aims to increase women’s involvement in climate decision-making and implementation by bolstering institutional procedures and supporting policy initiatives. While ccGAP also supports the creation and execution of gender-responsive programs, initiatives such as “Women as Agents of Change” concentrate on supporting and shielding women from sexual and gender-based offenses.

Statistics from UN Women and the World Bank underline the urgent need to integrate female consciousness into climate policies, particularly in states like Pakistan, where women are disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters. According to these statistics, women are 14 times more likely to die in natural disasters. Furthermore, women, especially those living in rural areas, face heightened vulnerabilities to natural disasters, as sourced by the World Bank’s findings. Moreover, the increased risk of gender-based violence during and after such calamities, as indicated by Oxfam’s research, further reinforces the need for a gender-sensitive approach to climate security policies.

33 million people in Pakistan—mostly women—were left without homes, means of subsistence, or access to essential supplies in 2022 as a result of floods. Eight million women and girls lacked basic menstrual hygiene items and at least 650,000 pregnant women were denied access to healthcare services. The UN estimates that women make up 80% of those who have been displaced due to climate change. Disasters caused by climate change put women in Pakistan—who already struggle with a deficient healthcare system and an increasing birth rate—into even more difficult situations.

Furthermore, the disparity in the impact of climate change on women extends beyond immediate physical risks to encompass broader socio-economic factors. For instance, women often bear the brunt of household responsibilities, including securing food, water and shelter during and after disasters. Therefore, climate policies must consider the intersecting roles of gender, class and other social factors in determining vulnerability and resilience.

Female consciousness, a fundamental aspect of feminist theory, explores how women perceive themselves, their experiences and their roles within society. Including this perspective in climate policies can adequately address the unique challenges faced by women. Women’s voices must be central in shaping climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, as they are the ones most affected and hence possess invaluable insights into their communities’ needs and vulnerabilities. However, the inclusion of a female consciousness is often hindered by sustained patriarchy and hypermasculinity.

Strongly ingrained in Pakistani culture, patriarchy is reflected in the social, political and economic systems that disadvantage women. These difficulties are exacerbated by hypermasculinity, which is defined by the glorification of aggressive, dominating and emotionally repressed characteristics that are traditionally associated with men. This ideology then affects how policies are made, where choices are frequently made based more on competitive, short-term objectives than inclusive, long-term solutions. Therefore, the special vulnerabilities and contributions of women may be ignored in policymaking, especially in light of climate change.

Hypermasculinity perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes that state women as being less capable or less suited for leadership roles, especially in areas that are traditionally dominated by men, such as environmental policy and disaster management. This exclusion limits women’s participation in decision-making processes, which in turn reduces the effectiveness of climate policies. Moreover, hypermasculine attitudes tend to dismiss and devalue care work and community-based approaches, which are crucial for building resilience to climate challenges. To overcome these barriers, it is essential to integrate a female consciousness to climate policy that challenges these sustained patriarchal norms and hypermasculine values. This approach would prioritize gender equity, recognizing the importance of care work and the value of diverse perspectives and experiences of women.

By adopting female consciousness into climate policies, we can develop more holistic and effective strategies that address the needs of all individuals, regardless of gender. Addressing the socio-economic inequalities that are exacerbated by climate change requires a gender-sensitive approach to policy and programming. Marginalized women face increased vulnerability due to factors such as water scarcity, food insecurity, health impacts, displacement and economic instability. Specific challenges include limited resources for adaptation, increased care work burdens, heightened risks of gender-based violence and restricted access to decision-making processes.

Integrating female consciousness in climate security policies is crucial. To truly empower women as agents of change, we must address these barriers head-on, ensuring their voices are not only heard but also valued in policymaking. By doing so, we can ensure that climate policies are inclusive, responsive and effective in addressing the needs of all individuals, regardless of gender. Let us remember that sustainable, resilient solutions require the full participation and empowerment of all.