Climate Change and its effects on Gender Equality in Afghanistan

REPORT BY NILOFAR

Climate change as a current, hazardous pest

Greenhouse gases (GHG) such as methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), emitted by industrial companies, are the main cause for the recent climate changes, with 75% of these greenhouse gases stemming from deforestation and fossil fuel burning. Recent global warming is researched and reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). IPCC is an authorized group of scholars and scientists researching and reporting on climate change issues. It was established by the United Nations in 1988 and publishes scientific reports on global warming (Irene, 2010). Based on the IPCC reports in 2021, human actions have caused a high level of global warming for the atmosphere, ocean, and land, leading to an increase in the frequency and intensity of hot extremes, marine heatwaves, heavy precipitation, and agricultural droughts in some areas of the world. These effects are also very likely to exacerbated soon (IPCC, 2021).

Afghanistan as a developing country is not immune to this demolishing pest and it has often been recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change (Valentin et al, 2017). According to the Asian Development Bank reports published in 2020, Afghanistan scored 176 out of 181 in the 2019 ND_GAIN index, meaning that it as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change (ADB, 2020). On the other hand, during the last four decades, it has been in devastating wars which have resulted in the desolation of its infrastructure and economy. This further increases its vulnerability to warming, thus Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to climate change not only for its location, but also for experiencing four decades of demolishing conflicts. (Najibullah et al, 2020). As such, it is experiencing a high level of climate change and extreme weather events including floods, droughts, and fires since the 20^th century. (Monir, 2019). The very recent example of natural hazards in Afghanistan is the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that happened in the Paktika and Khost provinces of Afghanistan, which killed 1,036 people, injured 2,949 people, and damaged 4,500 homes. (WHO, 2022)

The IPCC reports further highlights the current changes in the climate system which includes the high concentration of CO₂, CH_4, and Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) in 2019, a tremendous increase in the global temperature since 1970, reduction in the level of the Arctic Sea ice area in 2011-2020, faster reduction in the global sea level since 1900, and the intensification of hot extremes since 1950s. (IPCC, 2021)

Observed changes in the climate system reported by the IPCC sixth assessment do not give us a long period of time to cope with it. Rather, it is something we are facing today and based on the IPCC reports, our capacity to adapt to climate change will be exceeded at an unprecedented rate. This is unless we take urgent actions to reduce the amount of CO₂, and other greenhouse gases (GHG) in the coming decades. (IPCC, 2021).

As Afghanistan is a developing country dependent on agriculture, the current global warming can be destructive to the water sources and agriculture in Afghanistan (Najibullah et al, 2020). In Afghanistan, nearly 67-85% of its population are busy with agriculture and cultivation itself requires fair climate conditions. Changes in the climate system can highly influence the water availability in Afghanistan and thus result in the occurrence of devastating droughts. Considering that Afghanistan is in an arid and semiarid area, droughts can have the most damaging effects on agriculture compared to the other natural pests. (Ishanch et al, 2019)

According to a survey conducted by Najibullah Omerkhil and his colleagues in Yangi Qala, district of Takhar province in Afghanistan, smallholder farmers are the most vulnerable farmers to the climate changes. This is as their small farms are in deserts, marginal landscapes, and floodplains and thus the climatic hazards can cause severe damage to their agricultural products, which lead to food shortages in the area. It has been further discussed that it is not just the climate hazards which make Afghans one of the most vulnerable nations. Rather, it is also due to the fact that farms are small, the farmers do not have the required technological resources, and there is a low level of capitalization in the country. That is why the country is vulnerable to any climatic or non-climatic hazards. (Najibullah et al, 2020)

Climate Change and Gender Equality

There is no doubt that the observed climate hazards stemming from the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions are caused by human beings’ actions (IPCC, 2021). Yet, further discussion is required about who is responsible for the recent global warming and who bears the burden of this devastating phenomenon.

The Industrial Revolution in Britain at the end of the 18^th century has paved the way for today’s economic growth (Gerd, 2010). Following this, the industrialized nations strengthened more than ever and have emitted 80 percent of their greenhouse gases (GHG) to the earth’s atmosphere because of their rapid industrialization. Thus, the industrialized countries are to be the main responsive nations to the recent climate changes in the world (Irene, 2010). However, it is not justified that only the developed countries should be called responsible for global warming. On the other hand, it is the result of the destructive usage of the environment such as deforestation which is generally done by the developing world. Thus, a helpful conclusion is that all human beings are in the long run responsible for the current hazards and climate change. However, developed countries are the most responsible nations for climate change. (M. Margaret, 2010)

Beyond the idea of responsibility, the vulnerability issue needs to be focused on. This is as it is of the greatest necessity to know the main groups and communities vulnerable to climate changes, which leads to a clear vision in the terms of gender equality in the decision-making process. Climate change has always attacked the developing countries more than developed countries. As the IPCC Second Working Group reported, those nations with the least resources are the most vulnerable nations to the changes in the climate system (Irene,2010). However, the vulnerability of the countries is not the only issue to be focused on. Vulnerability from gendered norms is of the most importance to be focused on, as women are the most vulnerable to the changes in the climate system.

To better explain women’s vulnerability to climate changes, it is necessary to know what gender is and how it relates to the inequalities in the societies. Pouw and Haroon provide a reasonable definition of the gender, which “refers to the socially constructed norms and behaviours of women and men, girls and boys that transcend the identities, roles and relationships performed”. Based on this definition, these are the constructed norms of a society which designates the identity, roles, and relationships of its men and women, thereby defining the border between masculine and feminine. The social constructions entreating with the term gender are religion, ethics, culture, caste, race, ethnicity, age, and marital status. (Pouw & A. Haroon, 2017)

Unfortunately, women represent 70 percent of the 1.3 billion people who live below the poverty line in developing countries. Therefore, it is clear that women living in the countries with the least resources are the poorest and thus the most vulnerable. Considering that women have less access to natural resources like land, water, and forests, they remain isolated from the decision-making process at micro, miso, and macro levels and thus it increases the level of their poverty and vulnerability (Irene, 2010). This vulnerability directly stems from their gender, formed by their societies limiting the women’s ability to own land, control the natural resources, access paid labour, and spend time on agriculture (Fatma, 2010). It is generally believed that the natural hazards should affect both men and women in the same way (Fatma, 2010). Yet, this belief is currently challenged by the recent research on the high vulnerability of the women.

The vulnerability of the women is comprehensively argued by Denton (2000) in her article which is beautifully demonstrated by Margaret M. Skutsch (2010). Denton argues that women are more vulnerable to climate changes than men, as they are in general poorer than men and are more reliable on the primary sources. From a very superficial standpoint, the women’s vulnerability seems confusing as it is not clear that poverty causes the women inequality or their gender. However, if we go in depth, it is more logical to argue that the women’s vulnerability stems from their poverty, and their poverty is caused due to their less access to the land and other natural resources . This lack of access to and ownership of resources is one of the aspects of their gender constructed by social norms. (Margaret, 2010)

Although men are the main managers of the agriculture and the natural sources, women, and especially the rural women, play a significant role in the management of natural sources as most of them take active part in agriculture and farming (Fatma, 2010). In addition, rural women are responsible for searching for and providing clean water and firewood for their daily house chores while the floods, droughts, and other natural hazards cause more difficulties for them. For instance, the recent droughts in rural regions can add to the distance women have to walk to search for clean water and firewood, thus causing them more and more hardship. Food insecurity and water shortages cause them more difficulties in doing their household chores. In addition, women are generally responsible to take care of the sick patient members of their family, while the high level of diseases caused by climate changes adds to their responsibility. On the other hand, women’s immunity to illnesses is less than men’s immunity, thus they are more vulnerable to the illnesses which are caused due to global warming (Fatma, 2010). According to the World Health Organization’s reports, the greenhouse gases emission cause climate change and air pollution, leading the world to experience approximately 250,000 additional deaths between 2030-2050 caused by malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and hot stresses. These specific illnesses are caused due to global warming which mostly affects children and women. (WHO, 2021)

Pursuant to the IPCC reports, Asian countries are already being affected by the climate changes and it is of high confidence that the hot extremes have been in high frequency in Asian countries (IPCC, 2021). Afghanistan, like other Asian countries, is a hotspot to the high level of climatic hazards such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and similar events, and is one of the most vulnerable nations, ranked 5^th in the INFORM 2019 index. As per Asian Development Bank report, Afghanistan encountered heatwaves of 1⁰C in the 20^th century, which is repeated report by the Afghanistan’s Second Communication to the UNFCC (NC2) in 2019. Unfortunately, the ADB reported that Afghanistan is going to experience a warming level of 5.5 ⁰C by the 2080s-2090s, which is appallingly above the global average level of warming. As such, the high level of droughts, especially in the southern parts of the country between 1901-2010, affected the vulnerable Afghan farmers. (ADB, 2020)

It is significant to focus on the social aspects of the changes on the climate system, especially from the gender aspect as women are vulnerable human beings bearing the burden of global warming (Margaret, 2010). Afghan women living in one of the most at-risk countries remain highly vulnerable compared to women around the globe, as they are mainly dependent on the male members of their family, especially the rural women. These women are highly involved in cultivation and harvest and take active part in collecting the agricultural products (NUPI & SIPRI, 2022). Afghan women mostly work at home making jewellery while their major responsibility is to take care of their animals and provide the clean water and firewood. (UNDP, 2020)

It is of the greatest concerns that neither their key roles in natural resource management nor their vulnerability is considered in the decision making process of climate change mitigation, as the changes in the climate system have been discussed only from the environmental aspects; consequently forgetting the social and political aspects. However, women are being involved in some decision making processes with a very low percentage compared to men. The very recent example is the IPCC reports enhancing the women’s participation percentage from 2% to 22% since its first assessment to its fifth assessment report, but their involvement is not atthe level it should be compared to the men’s involvement (Miriam & Diana, 2018). Therefore, the governments should deeply pay attention to the gender equality in the decision making process, affecting the life and health of both women and men, given that equal inclusion adds to the efficiency of decision making processes. Similarly, if women’s vulnerability and their rights are not considered in the decision making process equally to men, gender equality will be at stake around the globe - especially in developing countries. (M. Margaret, 2010)

Analysis:

Afghan women are more vulnerable to climate change compared to Afghan men. This is as they are financially dependent on men, most of the Afghan women are illiterate, and their role in managing the natural resources is not considered by the male members of their family, policy makers, and government. Therefore, the following policies are required to be adopted by the United Nations agencies in Afghanistan, environmental activist organizations, universities, and responsible governments.

Considering the current situation in Afghanistan, the United Nation agencies in Afghanistan are the most authorised agencies to launch projects to promote community awareness and gender equality in decision making process in Afghanistan. In the short term, the United Nations agencies, especially UNAMA in collaboration with UNFAO and UNESCO, can launch a joint project to send their employees in rural parts of Afghanistan. The selected teams should travel to villages, they should arrange meetings and workshops to make both women and men aware of the recent changes in the climate system, their impacts on them, how these changes affect women differently, how they can reduce the level of global warming and how they can adapt themselves to these climatic hazards. The projects should specifically target women, as they are the most vulnerable human beings. Therefore, the project can be efficient only if a major part of the selected teams are women. Otherwise, as is the case in most of the rural areas, the men will not allow other men to talk to their women and girls. That is why the organizing agencies should hire expert women to travel to the villages and talk to the women and girls about their vulnerability, their roles in managing the natural resources, and how their ideas can affect the efficiency of the actions held to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emission. The UN can also support other environmental activist organisations to launch the same projects through which they can add to the speed and efficiency of these projects. Considering that Afghanistan is an Islamic country, the selected teams can focus on the religious aspects of climate management as the religious orders can highly impact men and women. For instance, Mohammad ^(PBH) said, “Keep the earth safe as it is your mother.”

This religious command includes both men and women, as Mohammad ^(PBH) did not say that men should keep the world safe. Rather, he ordered generally which includes both men and women. Therefore, women and men are obliged to keep the earth safe together.

Moreover, universities and schools are the most effective bodies to broadcast the recent changes in the climate system and their impacts on gender inequality in Afghanistan. These broadcasting processes can make men and women aware of the negative impacts of climate change and their vulnerability. They can also use this to voice their vulnerability together, to enforce the policy makers and the developed countries to take immediate actions to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

In the long run, the United Nations and government should work on promoting gender equality in education, policy, and labour force. This is as Afghanistan is the one of the bases for gender inequality in climate management and gender inequality in education. 61% of the illiterate population in Afghanistan are women, meaning that most of the girls did not have equal access to education. This has resulted in their inequality in labour force, policy, and climate change. However, following the Taliban take over, all the girls are banned from going to the secondary and high schools, which accelerates their vulnerability more than ever. Therefore, the United Nations, Taliban, and the responsible countries such as the U.S should take immediate actions to provide all Afghan girls with equal access to education.

Conclusion:

Afghanistan is a developing country located in the Asia continent having arid and semi-arid climate. Afghanistan is a host country for a high level of climatic hazards. It has been witnessing severe droughts, floods, heatwaves, and events alike since the 20^th century. Although the developed countries are the most responsible countries for the changes in the climate system, the developing countries such as Afghanistan bear the burden of these climatic hazards.

Afghanistan is mainly dependent on agriculture and thus droughts and floods have highly impacted its infrastructure and economy. As women are financially dependent on men, they have been impacted by the recent climatic hazards differently. Climatic changes caused intense poverty in Afghanistan, which increases stress and anxiety in men leading to the high level of violence against women and girls as a result. When families face poverty, they sell their girls to marry so that the rest of the family members have enough food and clothing.

The women in Afghanistan play an important role in managing the natural resources, as they are mostly responsible for providing clean water and fire-woods. However, they remain underrepresented as the women in the rural areas are not aware of climate change and their vulnerability and thus, they do not know how to voice their difficulties and vulnerabilities. What’s more, they are also more vulnerable to illnesses which are caused by global warming such as cholera and malaria than men. Therefore, the United Nations agencies in Afghanistan, the climate activist organizations, Afghan government, universities, and the other responsible countries such as the U.S. should take immediate action, in order to increase the level of community awareness; especially in the rural parts of Afghanistan. Both women and men should be aware of their vulnerability, in order to voice their challenges and difficulties and thus exert pressure on the policymakers, government, and developed countries to take actual actions against increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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