Women and the Seeds of Progress


Climate change impacts everyone, but not equally.


According to the United Nations, women are 14 times more likely than men to die in climate-related emergencies or events. Existing gender inequalities across all sectors of society exacerbate the challenges faced by women. In many regions, particularly in rural areas and developing countries, traditional gender roles impose a disproportionate burden on women, who perform at least two and a half times more unpaid household duties than men. They not only bear the primary responsibility for caregiving tasks—such as childcare, eldercare, and healthcare—but also must secure essential resources like food and water for their families.

This significant burden is often compounded by economic disadvantage, as women frequently occupy lower-paying jobs to manage these responsibilities. Consequently, their limited access to resources hinders their ability to adapt to and cope with the impacts of climate change.

Women’s Role in Farming and Agriculture

Women play a crucial role in agriculture, being responsible for half of the world’s food production, and in developing countries. According to The Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, women contribute up to 80% of the total food supply representing 43% of  agricultural labor.

However, in agriculture, women produce 20% to 30% less than males. This disparity is largely attributed to the exclusion they face, stemming from their status as smallholder farmers and the challenges associated with being women in a male-dominated sector. Additionally, they have limited access to essential resources such as education, training, machinery, new technologies, credit and, crucially, land rights. These limitations significantly hinder their ability to adapt and build resilience in the face of climate-related challenges.

According to the World Economic Forum, women own less than 20% of the world’s land. In fact, female farmers face unequal land ownership rights in over 90 countries. For instance, in Uganda, the proportion of land owned by men is 21% higher than that owned by women.

Like many developing nations, Albania heavily relies on agriculture, contributing approximately to 20% of the country’s GDP. This sector is primarily driven by women, serving as the main livelihood for numerous farming families. However, according to the World Bank Group, in 2018 women owned only 4.8% of the land, a stark contrast to the 15.7% owned by men.

This disparity highlights the challenges women face in accessing land and resources critical for agricultural productivity and economic stability. Such limited access can severely impact their ability to farm effectively, generate income, and pursue sustainable livelihoods.

How small-scale agriculture can do big-scale changes

The effects of climate change are worsening daily, characterized by unpredictable and extreme weather patterns that lead to altered rainfall, resulting in droughts, heatwaves, and flooding. All farmers, whether large or small, are affected by these changes, which are driving the acceleration of inequality and poverty.

Unpredictable shifts in temperature and water availability will impact regions that were not previously vulnerable, exposing them to unfamiliar risks such as crop-eating insects and destructive blights or fungi.

In Albania, these concerns are already evident. Over the past decade, the country has experienced an increase in environmental disasters, largely attributed to hail, pre-seasonal rainfalls, floods, severe droughts, high temperatures, and prolonged dry spells.

The rising frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change is negatively impacting malnutrition rates in the world’s most vulnerable areas. According to Oxfam, between 2000 and 2022, countries that experienced extreme weather events saw the number of malnourished individuals rise from 21 million to 48 million during the last six years of that period.

Conclusions

Agriculture and food production are already being significantly affected by climate change.

While many governments are implementing laws to protect the environment and support farmers, women often remain excluded from these initiatives. It is imperative for policymakers to ensure that women have secure land rights and access to vital funding, resources, and support to adapt to climate challenges.

Women are not only the backbone of their communities, bearing immense responsibilities, but they also play a pivotal role in fostering societal change. Small-scale agriculture, driven by women farmers, has been proven to be two to four times more effective in reducing hunger and poverty compared to other sectors. Women contribute significantly to food production, supporting both their families and their broader communities.

Providing women with the resources and rights they need would not only protect their livelihoods but also enhance their productivity. This support would unlock the potential of millions of women farmers, enabling them to play a crucial role in reducing poverty and hunger.

By prioritizing gender equity in climate solutions, we can unleash the full potential of women as agents of change, paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable future.

  1. OXFAM International, Empowering women farmers to end hunger and poverty
  2. UNDP, Women are hit hardest in disasters, so why are responses too often gender-blind?
  3. The Observatory for Children and Youth Rights, Research on mainstreaming gender into efforts to fight climate change in albania
  4. Women own less than 20% of the world’s land. It’s time to give them equal property rights
  5. World Bank Group, Ownership of land (%)
  6. The Observatory for Children and Youth Rights, The Impact of Climate Change
  7. OXFAM, How will climate change affect agriculture?
  8. UN Women, Explainer: How gender inequality and climate change are interconnected
  9. United Nations, Why women are key to climate action