EXPECTED CLIMATE IMPACTS
Agriculture: impacts on food security
 Natural resources: water, energy,…
 Health
 Social change: conflicts
 Increasing natural disasters

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Climate change is unequivocal
and global
Frequency of heavy
precipitation
events increasing
Surface
temperatures
increasing
Tropospheric
temperatures
increasing
Ocean heat
content
increasing
Tropical cyclone
intensity
increasing
UNEQUI
VOCAL
Extreme
temperatures
increasing
Sea level rise
More intense
and longer
droughts
IPCC
Area of
seasonally frozen
ground decreasing
Glaciers and
snow over
decreasing
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3
HURRICANE KATRINA
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HURRICANE KATRINA
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CYCLONE NARGIS: FLOODING
IN OUTSKIRTS OF YANGON
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DISASTERS
NATURAL DISASTERS
SUDDEN
- Earthquakes
- Tsunami
- Volcanic Eruptions
- Floods
- Landslides
- Storms, Hurricanes,
- Cyclones
SLOW
- Desertification
- Drought
HUMAN DISASTERS
ENVIRONMENTAL
- Greenhouse effect
- Deforestation
- Uncontrolled town
planning, megacities
- Drying Lakes
TECHNOLOGICAL
- Chemistry (Bhopal,
AZT)
- Nuclear (Chernobyl)
- Oil spill
INTERACTIONS COMPLEX DISASTERS
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HAZARD x
H
VULNERABILITY
x
V
=
=
RISK
R
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Increasing vulnerability/complexity

Development of megacities

Growing inter-connection natural /technological disasters

Technological dependance (power, computers,
communication systems)

Growing globalization = growing interdependency =
growing vulnerability from distant disasters

« Inconceivable » events
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BREAKING THE LINK
•Prevention
•Preparedness
•Risk management
HAZARDS ARE
INEVITABLE
DISASTERS
ARE NOT
INEVITABLE
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HURRICANE DEAN: CATEGORY
2 STORM ON AUGUST 16
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HURRICANE DEAN: PHOTO FROM
ENDEAVOR ON AUGUST 18
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CYCONES IN
BANGLADESH
Facts:
In 1970, a cyclone caused 400.000 deaths and left
1.3 million homeless
Installation of a cyclone early warning system
In 1985, thanks to the early warning, a cyclone of
same intensity caused a number of deaths limited
to 10.000
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CYCLONE NARGIS
APPROACHING BANGLADESH:
MAY 1, 2008:
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CYCLONE NARGIS: FLOODING
IN OUTSKIRTS OF YANGON
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MYANMAR CYCLONE
•Inadequate warning and
evacuation systems
•Inadequate advance
preparations
•Limited expertise for
disaster assistance
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West Coast of Aceh
(Widjo Kongko, 2005) (after Kameda)
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Barriers to disaster reduction
• perception of inevitability; fatalism
• prevention measures neglected
• information about natural disasters and
disaster reduction techniques is not
disseminated
• planning divorced from hazard
management
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 Women are more vulnerable to
natural hazards
 Women are key actors in disaster
preparedness
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 Women constitute up to 80% of
refugee and displaced populations
In emergency situations women
and children make up 70 to 80% of
those needing assistance
21
Bangladesh Cyclone 1991
 Women
aged 20-44: death rate was 71
per 1000
 Men
aged 20-44: death rate was 15
per 1000
(IUCN)
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WHY ARE WOMEN MORE VULNERABLE
Biological, social and economical differences
1.
Women have less access to resources
2.
Women are victims of the gendered
division of labour
3. Women are primarily responsible for
domestic duties, are caregivers
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WHY ARE WOMEN MORE VULNERABLE
Biological, social and economical differences
4. Early warning systems are orientated
towards males
5. After a natural disaster, women are more
likely to become victims of domestic and
sexual violence
6. Migration due to climate change will leave
women behind
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TROPICAL CYCLONE SIDR:
DESPAIR
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Women’s role in Disaster Risk
Management
WOMEN ARE KEY
ACTORS IN
BUILDING,
SHAPING AND
SUSTAINING
RESILIENT
COMMUNITIES
Photo Credit: Joanne Omang
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Women’s role in Disaster Risk
Management

Women respond to disasters
Building houses; digging wells and ditches;
hauling water and building shelters,
considered as “male” tasks.
Forming groups and networks which is essential
in disaster preparedness and mitigation.
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Women’s role in Disaster Risk Management

Women play decision-making roles in disaster issues

Women and young girls play an important role in their
families and communities (in health, education and
childcare).
Posted by Mayan Families; www.mayanfamilies.org/6a61re2.jpg
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Promote Gender Concerns
Launch global campaign on
disaster reduction in which
gender is fully mainstreamed
Urge governments:
policies and strategies
with gender balanced
approaches
Establish focal points to
promote gender balanced
approaches at all levels
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Looking to Natural Disasters from a
Gender Perspective
Ensure women’s access to policy-making,
information and knowledge on
disaster reduction
Increase efforts in
promoting gender equalities
Respond to women's
needs and concerns
Gender-based
approach
to the study on
natural disasters
Strengthen the dialogue
within & between communities
and the national government
& capacity-building
Acknowledge women’s
vulnerable status
Assure women’s access
to relief resources
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Good practices and Lessons Learned



Hurricane Mitch, Honduras, 1998 – “Garifuna
Emergency Committee of Honduras” was created to
promote women’s leadership in decision-making
roles.
Indian Ocean Tsunami, India, December 2004 –
“Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Programmes”
were led by women from the communities involved.
Earthquake, Pakistan, 2005 – “Potohar Organization
for Development Advocacy (PODA)” promotes
women’s rights following a disaster.
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Fresh water management should
take into account the needs and role
both of men and women
through an equitable approach
34
Women and Water
They have major role in
managing
communal & safe maintaining
regulation & control of the social use
of
WATER SUPPLY
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Women: collectors, users &
managers of water
They provide household water
They cook, clean & take care of the
sick
They have vital role in agriculture
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Limited access to energy has a
disproportionate effect on
women, especially in rural areas.
-Risk for their health and safety
-They are not able to perform essential child-care
- Limits the opportunities for better education
- Electricity is essential for creating new employment opportunities
- Energy services enable improved food production and human well-being
- Energy poverty is a main factor for increased migration
ENERGY IS A KEY FACTOR IN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
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DEVELOPMENT
DISCRIMINATION
LESS PAYMENT
LESS EDUCATION
LESS ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES
LESS FINANCIAL RESOURCES
BEING MORE EXPOSED TO RISKS
BEING EXCLUDED OF PLANNING &
DECISION MAKING
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The United Nations system engaged in
disaster reduction
World Meteorological Organization
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WORLD BANK
United
Nations
Educational
Scientific (natural, environmental, social)
Cultural
(culture, communication, information)
Organization
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Long-term Goals

Observation and early warning networks of natural
hazards

Hazard risk mapping

Disaster-resistant building codes

Education for disaster reduction

Help make schools safer

Promotion of public awareness through communication

Protection of cultural monuments and sites
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Hydrological hazards




Studies of hydrological processes of floods,
Design of engineering works for flood control;
Development of a decision-support system for urban
water disaster mitigation;
International Flood Programme/Initiative.
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International
Consortium on Landslides
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Drought/desertification

The Man and Biosphere Programme
(MAB).
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