Context:
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The Beijing India Report 2024, released in the backdrop of Beijing+30, highlights the urgent need to integrate gender justice into India’s climate governance framework.
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It underlines that while India has progressive legal safeguards, gender-climate intersectionality remains largely ignored in policy design.
Key Highlights:
Gender–Climate Intersection Ignored
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India’s climate policies show a lack of gender sensitivity despite laws like:
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POSH Act
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Domestic Violence Act
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Persistent gaps remain in economic empowerment and fundamental rights protection for women.
Rural Gender Vulnerability & Migration Risks
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Rural women act as frontline climate responders, yet face disproportionate burdens such as:
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Malnutrition and food insecurity
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Displacement due to climate migration
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Mental health stress
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India reports the highest anaemia rates among pregnant women.
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Over 50% women lack consistent food access, worsening vulnerability.
Unpaid Labour and Time Burden
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Indian women spend nearly 7.8 hours/day on unpaid domestic and care work.
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This burden may rise to 8.3 hours/day by 2050 without policy intervention.
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Climate stress intensifies women’s time poverty.
Women’s Role in Adaptation & Resilience
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Indigenous and rural women contribute through:
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Forest-based livelihoods
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Sustainable agriculture practices
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Their role in food systems, adaptation planning, and natural resource management needs scaling.
Climate Finance and Private Sector Role
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Climate funding must ensure:
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Women’s participation in green jobs
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Inclusion in decision-making structures
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Tools like green budgeting and localised adaptation finance are essential for equity.
Relevant Prelims Points:
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Issue: Gender-blind climate policies increase vulnerability.
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Causes: Structural inequality, unpaid labour burden, weak representation.
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Government Initiatives Needed: Gender-responsive budgeting, inclusive adaptation plans.
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Benefits: Stronger resilience, sustainable development, women-led climate solutions.
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Challenges: Social norms, lack of climate finance targeting women, rural distress.
Relevant Mains Points:
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Concepts: Gender justice, climate resilience, intersectionality, inclusive governance.
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Linkages: Climate change impacts health, migration, livelihoods disproportionately.
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Provisions: Rights-based approach aligned with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
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Way Forward:
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Mainstream gender across climate adaptation sectors
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Invest in women’s leadership
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Strengthen public services like sanitation, clean energy, nutrition security
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Use Beijing+30 as an opportunity to align gender-climate priorities
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UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
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GS 1: Role of women, social empowerment, rural vulnerability
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GS 2: Governance, inclusive policymaking, welfare interventions
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GS 3: Climate adaptation, resilience, sustainable development