ESG – Climate Of Inequality!

The Journal, Chartered Insurance Institute

May 3, 2023

https://thejournal.cii.co.uk/2023/05/03/esg-climate-inequality

This piece for the Journal of Chartered Insurance Institute is about #women in #SouthAsia – on front line of the unfolding #ClimateCrisis.

Floods, droughts, heat, deforestation, sea level rise, soil degradation, deforestation, pollution – the list does not end here – incessantly test the resilience of women in the sub-continent. Changes in average weather are projected to have overall negative impacts on living standards in #Bangladesh, #India, #Pakistan and #SriLanka.

The Crisis endangers women’s health as well as their livelihoods. Social injustices only add to this perilous situation. As crises compound, female workforces suffer and the risk of global gender parity backsliding further intensifies. The situation in much of South Asia remains challenged. As environmentalist and noted author Naomi Klein warns: “Every disaster will intensify pre-existing inequalities. It is inequality that kills.”

“Women form the gender-climate nexus as solution providers. They hold the key to climate adaptation and mitigation, yet more often than not, they are left out of the conversation”. Bemoans Durreen Shahnaz, founder of Impact Investment Exchange. She adds: “Conferences in the Global North talk often of the important role of women but asks how many truly recognise the power of women within Global South economies and see them as being part of the solution rather than victims of climate change?”

“Women in the Global South are determined to get into decision-making spaces, but the lack of resources, expertise and opportunities is preventing this”, believes SHE Changes Climate. It is ‘enabling women in all their diversity to lead just Climate action globally’.

Much of the discussion here – on #diversity (non)#inclusion and (un)#equity – centres around women on boards and tends to fritter away post the #IWD.