Weathering the storm
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Material Information

Title:
Weathering the storm girls and climate change
Creator:
Plan International
Disaster Risk Reduction Program, Florida International University (DRR/FIU) ( summary contributor )
Place of Publication:
London, UK
Publisher:
Plan International
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2010
Language:
English

Notes

Summary:
This is an advocacy paper that discusses the disproportionate negative impact that climate change has on children, particularly girls, and why this is problematic if development gains are to be sustained in the face of its adverse effects. Its primary targets are those involved in crafting policies related to adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development. The first section discusses the myriad ways that girls suffer from climate change. It looks at how this disparity is manifested in education, household work, forced marriage, and sexual violence. When a disaster occurs, girls are disproportionately withdrawn from schools to generate income or to help with domestic responsibilities. They are more likely to be forced into early marriage, as families are less willing to support them financially. These girls also become exposed to sexual violence when disasters separate them from the protection of their family. The next section looks at how girls are excluded from the disaster risk reduction discussion. While traditionally disempowered groups such as women and children are increasingly being acknowledged as significant to the climate change dialogue, girls are never given a voice specifically as girls. The document goes to argue that girls are significant as a class of people because studies have shown that investing in girls leads to significant development gains. Rather than treating girls as passive bystanders and helpless victims, investing in their education and resilience will reduce some of the main components of vulnerability such as poor livelihood opportunities and intergenerational poverty. The document contends that children should play a major role in disaster risk reduction because it has been shown that they are more adept at disseminating information about disaster risks throughout their communities than adults. They are also more likely to engage in raising awareness and acting to reduce risks. While parents tend to focus on the short and medium term, children are more likely to invest in long-term initiatives. Plan international recommends that an important component of adaptation to climate change be an investment in educating children on the risks that they are exposed to. This will ensure that the next generation of adults is less vulnerable to disaster than the current one. This education must be equitable, combating gender stereotypes and ensuring gender equality. Children, particularly girls, must be encouraged to take part in developing policies to reduce threats emanating from climate change. Girls are valuable resources that vulnerable societies cannot afford to exclude from efforts to reduce vulnerability and build resilience. ( English )
Subject:
Climate Change ( English )
Citation/Reference:
(2010). Weathering the storm: girls and climate change. Plan International.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Refer to main document/publisher for use rights.
Resource Identifier:
FI13010942

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Aggregations:
Disaster Risk Reduction