Climate Response for Drylands Must Include Women

Jun 17, 2023 | Tiina Vähänen and Fidaa F. Haddad
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In the world’s drylands, which are home to nearly 40% of the global population, women are feeling the effects of climate change. Droughts and land degradation have dramatically altered dryland landscapes, where communities depend on forests, other wooded lands, and grasslands for their livelihoods and to meet basic needs.

Women are often responsible for growing food, collecting water, and sourcing firewood for their families. When drought causes water to dry up, women have to walk further to collect it, taking even more time away from livelihood generation or education.

According to FAO’s Status of Women in Agrifood Systems report, women spend more than double the amount of time on unpaid domestic work than men do, largely due to time spent collecting water. Climate change is driving this figure up further.