Impact of Climate Change

1. Impact 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 Resource 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 Women Vulnerability to Climate, 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. Current CERD Areas • CERD is currently in 4 municipalities, namely Biri and Mondragon in Northern Samar, and Hinatuan and Marihatag in Surigao del Sur Biri Mondragon Hinatuan Marihatag

5. 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. The Philippines is an archipelagic country • Archipelagic country composed of 7,100 islands and islets • Bounded by 3 large bodies of water: South China Sea, Pacific Ocean and Celebes Sea

7. The Women 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 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 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. Women 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 Fisherwomen patrolling the seas

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

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

14. Challenges • 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. Summary • 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