Download Pacific Ocean is by far the most active basin.

Impact of Climate Change
On Women Economic Empowerment
Marita P. Rodriguez, CERD
2010 PFLCW 8th General Assembly
Sison Auditorium, Provincial Capitol, Lingayen, Pangasinan
November 10-12, 2010
Center for Empowerment and Resource
Development, Inc.
• An NGO that is 32 years old now
• Envisions empowered, self-reliant coastal
communities sustainably living in harmony
with abundant and diverse coastal and
marine environment
• Facilitating the emergence of sustainable,
vibrant and diverse coastal communities
of empowered men and women fisherfolk
forms the core of its philosophy.
On Women Vulnerability to Climate,
Change CERD Believes that:
Women
are already vulnerable because the
current relations advantages men more than
women- in the family, education, employment
and livelihoods, in institutions and structures
Their vulnerability is heightened by climate
change; therefore it is important to know
their nuanced situation
Women not just victims; they are capable of
contributing to solutions and thus should be
involved in decision making processes
Current CERD Areas

CERD is currently
in 4 municipalities,
namely Biri and
Mondragon in
Northern Samar,
and Hinatuan and
Marihatag in Surigao
del Sur
Biri
Mondragon
Hinatuan
Marihatag
The Philippines is naturally vulnerable….
There are 7 main basins of tropical cyclone formation, and the Western North
Pacific Ocean is by far the most active basin. Tropical storm activity in this
region frequently affects China, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan. This
basin accounts for one third of all tropical cyclone activity in the world
The Philippines is an archipelagic country
Archipelagic country
composed of 7,100
islands and islets
• Bounded by 3 large
bodies of water: South
China Sea, Pacific Ocean
and Celebes Sea
•
The Women in Fisheries
• Doing 50-90% of fishing activities
from pre to post harvest
• Also earns income by gathering
shells and other marine products
in mangrove areas, seagrass beds,
reef flat areas and beach areas, as
well as seaweed farming
Challenges Faced by Women
•Fish catch is declining due to
coastal and marine resources
degradation
• Women have the burden of
seeking additional sources of
income. With the destruction
of mangroves and seagrass
beds, productive and
reproductive work of women
increased; lead to time
poverty
Experienced Impacts of Climate Change
•By year 2000 - changing rainy and hot weather
patterns. Amihan has hot days. Lenten season which
used to be hot now has heavy rains
•More intense typhoons, making it difficult to go out
fishing
•Diseases and foul smell in some species of fish like
kikiro, budas, danggit
•It is more difficult to gather shells because they
bury themselves in the sand, believed to be caused
by intense heat
•Tidal levels continue to increase such that coconut
trees fell due to erosion
Increasing tidal level
threatens dwelling
places, burdening the
women who are in
charge of maintaining
the household
 Loss of mangrove
areas also meant loss
of income for the
women

Women Initiatives to Adapt to Climate Change
Women are involved in
the establishment of
Marine Protected Areas
 They also participate in
roving and apprehension,
and are not afraid to
face fishing violators

Fisherwomen patrolling the seas

Fisherwomen doing mangrove reforestation
Because mangrove areas
are important source of
income for them, they
also protect these areas
through mangrove
reforestation and
establishment of
Women-Managed Area

Women
contribute to
family income
by having their
own livelihood
activities in
addition to their
participation in
fishing activities
Challenges






Increasing capacities of communities to secure livelihoods
Address food insecurity, unsecured settlement and health
problems to lessen the impact of climate change on women
Consider women and gender concerns in mitigating effects
and impacts of disasters caused by climate change
Recognize role and participation of women in identifying
measures to address problems
Engage government to improve framework for emergency
response to include specific needs of women and children
Lobby for the recognition of differential impacts of climate
change up to the international level
Summary
Women
are vulnerable due to time and
economic poverty, as well as limited
involvement/ participation in community
management
Said vulnerabilities are exacerbated by climate
change through intensified need to engage in
livelihood coupled with need to address other
emerging concerns in the reproductive
sphere, e.g. health, food and well-being,
including security of settlements
 However
adapt -
women also have inherent capacities to
They have knowledge of existing resources, and have
the capacity to manage these resources (e.g.WMAs)
They are organized (or can be organized)
Have expertise not only in productive work but also
in reproductive work like health/caregiving
 Adaptation
strategies should therefore include
building on the capacities of women through
their involvement in community governance
 Adaptation strategies to be meaningful for
women, should address both their productive
and reproductive concerns such as livelihoods,
food security, health and general well-being