Women are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to existing economic and time poverty which increases their burdens. Climate change exacerbates these vulnerabilities by reducing resources women rely on for livelihoods and increasing other needs like food security and health. However, women have demonstrated capacities to adapt, such as through establishing protected areas and livelihoods. Effective adaptation requires recognizing women's roles, addressing their productive and reproductive concerns, and involving them in decision-making.

1. Impact of Climate ChangeImpact 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

2. Center for Empowerment and ResourceCenter for Empowerment and Resource
Development, Inc.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.

3. On WomenVulnerability to Climate,On WomenVulnerability to Climate,
Change CERD Believes that: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

4. Biri
Mondragon
Hinatuan
Marihatag
Current CERD AreasCurrent CERD Areas
CERD is currently
in 4 municipalities,
namely Biri and
Mondragon in
Northern Samar,
and Hinatuan and
Marihatag in Surigao
del Sur

5. The Philippines is naturally vulnerable….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

6. • 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 Philippines is an archipelagic countryThe Philippines is an archipelagic country

7. TheWomen in FisheriesTheWomen 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

8. Challenges Faced by WomenChallenges 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

9. Experienced Impacts of Climate ChangeExperienced 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

10. 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

11. Fisherwomen patrolling the seas
Women Initiatives to Adapt to Climate ChangeWomen 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

12. Because mangrove areas
are important source of
income for them, they
also protect these areas
through mangrove
reforestation and
establishment of
Women-Managed AreaFisherwomen doing mangrove reforestation

13. Women
contribute to
family income
by having their
own livelihood
activities in
addition to their
participation in
fishing activities

14. ChallengesChallenges
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

15. SummarySummary
 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

16.  However women also have inherent capacities to
adapt -
 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