What about gender in climate change? Twelve feminist lessons from development

Abstract

Adaptation and mitigation are two key responses to climate change. In the global South; they prompt many questions: what is the direction and degree of change needed; how can new climate change policies be aligned with existing development initiatives; and how are core social relations such as gender understood and prioritized in relation to technical; and other; solutions? In search of synergies between adaptation; development and mitigation; this article asks a pertinent question for sub-Saharan small-scale agriculture in particular: what can adaptation and mitigation learn from development debates on social goal setting; institutional change; and gender equality? From the perspective of sustainability science and feminist literature; three main findings emerge. First, as regards social goal setting; adaptation and mitigation should; like development; support the escape out of poverty; ill-health; and food-insecurity. Second, as regards institutions; adaptation and mitigation should address how gender regulates access to; use of; and control over resources in terms of labor; land; and strategic decision-making power. Third, as regards gender equality; adaptation and mitigation should learn from how development in theory and practice has addressed gender; women; nature; and the environment. At its core; the analysis contributes twelve salient themes that can significantly inform adaptation and mitigation in research; policy and practice; thus, serving as inspiration for a critical debate on much needed synergetic trajectories.