Climate change and women

Women suffer from complications in pregnancy, premature deliveries and stillbirths

In Jacobabad, the hottest city on Earth, women are at the frontline of climate change. With temperatures exceeding 50 Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), pregnant women and young mothers work in the fields under the scorching sun every day. They suffer from complications in pregnancy, premature deliveries and stillbirths. Unfortunately, there is little respite for them as those who can make a difference remain largely oblivious to their ordeals. There is thus the need to formulate climate change policies that particularly focus on addressing the needs of women, as also emphasised by Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman in a recent conversation with a media outlet.

The conservative and regressive societal norms have burdened these women with several responsibilities without empowering them. This coupled with their low socio-economic status compels them to continue working in the fields to maintain their livelihoods and perform household chores that include spending hours in front of stoves or open fires in cramped rooms with no ventilation. Resultantly, they suffer from dizziness, suffocation and heat strokes that are often lethal. Long power cuts have obstructed the supply of water in the city, which prevents residents from using water to cool themselves off. Fans and air conditioning serve little purpose in the absence of electricity.

Jacobabad’s case reveals the dualism of the climate situation as Pakistan is responsible for just a fraction of the greenhouse gases emitted in the industrial era and now warming the atmosphere. However, a significant proportion of the population is already bearing the brunt of climate intensity. Across South Asia, heatwaves are expected to become more regular and intense and those from lower-socio economic strata will be at the forefront of suffering. Therefore, in addition to forming climate policies tailored to the needs of women, the Federal Ministry of Climate Change must raise the case of Pakistan in global conventions and seek assistance and support for addressing climate concerns. Locally, the healthcare department can play a crucial role in reducing the hardships of these mothers by providing them access to appropriate and affordable healthcare services. Also, municipal authorities must work with the government to replace roofs with cooler materials and provide clean energy stoves.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2022.

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