This paper looks into climate and environment assessment from the angle of women and girls empowerment. The paper states that the inter-relationships between poverty, climate change and the environment are complex, situation-specific and conflicting.

Indeed, a major part of the livelihoods of the population of developing countries are still derived from natural resources, and the negative impacts of climate change on the natural resource base for poor people, including girls and women, will vary geographically and over time. However, the author highlights that climate change and associated environmental degradation affect men and women unequally.

Key recommendations for policy makers and donors include:

take into account the multiple dimensions of gender inequality and women’s and men’s experiences of climate change on the ground, and invest in research to enable this
move beyond simple assumptions about women’s vulnerability to highlight women’s agency in adapting to and mitigating climate change; this will involve integrating women’s valuable knowledge and practical experience into policy-making processes
learn from people-focused, gender-transformative approaches at the local level and apply these lessons to national and international policy
continue to build the evidence base by gathering and analysing qualitative and quantitative information around the social and gender dimensions of climate change