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Gender equality and climate change

Climate change is reshaping the development scope of the Asia-Pacific region, with the risks from tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and storms increasing significantly. Although some countries in the region are among the lowest carbon emitters in the world, they are some of the most impacted by climate-related extreme weather. Countries in the region that were previously unaffected by floods are becoming hotspots of flood exposure due to climate change. The number of people exposed to extreme temperatures increases yearly, affecting the most vulnerable populations the most. This policy brief aims to raise awareness of and spur regional action towards addressing the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change in Asia and the Pacific. While this policy brief does not attempt to provide a comprehensive picture of climate change from a gender angle, it rather offers examples of how climate change impact women and girls disproportionately in the region and highlights the importance of including their voices in climate change action. In particular, it looks at the consequences of climate change through a gender lens in three thematic areas identified for priority action: The feminization of agriculture, women’s ever-increasing share of unpaid care and domestic work in the region, and women’s participation and representation in climate action.

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