Why is Zonta focusing on Climate Action?
Climate change is impacting every human on the planet and research shows Women and Girls are disproprtionally impacted.
Climate change is a threat multiplier through this lens, it increases the existing gender equalities.
In many regions Women are responsible for gathering food, water and firewood. As these resources become scarcer due to climate change, more time is required to procure these resources and they become more expensive. This means other areas of womens lives are sacrificed to meet these core needs, these sacrifices include attending school or participating in income producing activities
Lack of resources also increases rates of gender based violence. While gender based violence often occurs in families or homes under stress, longer more isolated journeys to find resources also lead to greater risks of violence.
More illness due to ideal conditions for diseases, means women are often caring for those affected, again decreasing their capacity for education or incoming producing activities.
Women are also the key to Climate Action
Women are environmental stewards, responsible for 50% of the worlds food production and in poorer countries this numbe rincreases to 80%.
Women are the backbone of resillience - generally first responders and carers, they are also often the ones leading recovery and reconstructrion of communities after a destructive event
Women are agents of change - because they care and are carers, seeing first hand the impacts of lower quality food and resources, understanding if we support our environment, it will support us. Women making purchasing decisions tend to opt for organic food and eco label products. They minimise waste and recycle.
IT IS TIME TO INVEST IN WOMEN as a strong force for change