Q& A
Floods, cyclones have become frequent, intense
Hasna Moudud, green activist and former chairman of the special parliamentary committee in Bangladesh on environment and coastal areas, is founder-adviser of GLOBE International, a forum that brings legislators, scientists and business leaders together for dialogues on environmental issues. She talks to Narayani Ganesh of the need to focus on the gender aspect of climate change:
What is the gender aspect of climate change?
Women in Bangladesh are major players in food production. They are so desperate that in some areas they are fighting a battle with birds for leftover seeds post-harvest. River and coastal erosion is eating into livelihoods. It is women who hold the family together but with global warming taking its toll, they are finding the burden too much to bear. Members of GLOBE feel strongly that we must bring the gender perspective forward. One important aspect of facing the climate change challenge both in terms of adaptation and mitigation is to learn from traditional societies that are already coping with the problem. Local experience and knowledge must be shared.
Bangladesh is among those countries most vulnerable to climate destroyed, forcing tigers to look for shelter and food in human habitats. For Bangladesh, this was loss of a world heritage marine ecosystem. These are turtle-breeding grounds. And the marine biodiversity is in danger of being completely decimated. Bangladesh and West Bengal need to cooperate to protect the Sunderbans; it is our common heritage.
How should the gender burden be addressed?