Gender and Climate Change in Mauritius: Addressing Hazards and Gender Equality
Introduction
Women play an essential role in addressing climate change, both in adaptation and mitigation efforts. As outlined by UN Women Watch (2009), women's involvement in climate action is critical for achieving the long-term objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In Mauritius, there is growing recognition of the need for gender-inclusive policies to ensure that both women and men are actively involved in decision-making processes related to climate change, particularly as climate hazards disproportionately impact women.
Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Policies
The National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework, developed under the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP), recognizes gender as a cross-cutting issue. This framework ensures that climate adaptation strategies account for gender-specific vulnerabilities and opportunities, ensuring that women’s contributions are valued and leveraged in climate resilience efforts.
Additionally, the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) for the Low Carbon Island Development Strategy include gender considerations, recognizing the unique role women play in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Mauritius’ Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) further integrates gender concerns, highlighting the importance of empowering women in climate mitigation and adaptation actions.
Gender-Responsive Legislation and Initiatives
The forthcoming Climate Change Bill makes explicit provisions for incorporating gender considerations in climate initiatives. This legislative framework aims to ensure that women and men benefit equally from climate adaptation and mitigation projects, and that the specific challenges women face—such as increased vulnerability to climate-induced disasters—are addressed.
The Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management, and Climate Change (MoESDDBM) is currently reviewing its Gender Policy Statement of 2012, which aligns with the National Gender Policy Framework (2008). This statement provides a robust framework for mainstreaming gender in the Ministry’s policies, programmes, and activities. The framework also offers guidelines to public and private sectors, media, and civil society on how to incorporate gender perspectives in their climate-related actions, ensuring that both women and men have equal opportunities to participate as decision-makers in shaping a sustainable development future.
Public Awareness and Education on Gender and Climate Change
Raising public awareness about the gendered impacts of climate change is a priority for the government. Under the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP), a pamphlet on women and climate change has been produced, offering practical guidance on how women can contribute to climate action. Additionally, a DVD titled “Fam ek Sanzman Klimatik” (Women and Climate Change) was developed to educate the public on the critical role women play in climate adaptation and mitigation.
The “Guide pour la famille” is another initiative that emphasizes practical, household-level actions to combat climate change, with a focus on gender-inclusive strategies. This booklet offers practical solutions that families can implement to reduce their carbon footprint while ensuring that both men and women are equally involved in the fight against climate change.
Emerging Gender and Climate Priorities
As climate change continues to intensify, gender equality in climate action will remain a key priority. Ensuring that women have equal access to resources, information, and decision-making opportunities is vital to building a resilient and sustainable society. The focus on gender in climate change policies in Mauritius is part of a broader effort to promote women's equal participation in all aspects of climate resilience, from household actions to national policymaking.
Conclusion
Mauritius is committed to gender-responsive climate action. By mainstreaming gender in climate policies, laws, and public awareness initiatives, the country aims to empower women as active agents of change. This approach is crucial for addressing the gender-specific impacts of climate hazards and ensuring that both women and men contribute equally to building a sustainable and resilient future for Mauritius.
Gender
As women play a crucial role in climate change adaptation and mitigation actions (Women, Gender Equality and Climate Change, UN Women Watch 2009). They are increasingly involved along with men in all decision-making processes on climate action. This approach will be a significant factor in meeting the challenge of climate change and in achieving the long-term objectives of the UNFCCC. Gender has also been dealt with as a cross-cutting policy issue in the National Climate Change Adaptation Policy Framework which was formulated under the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP). The planned Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions for Low Carbon Island Development Strategy (NAMA) project will also take into account gender aspects and impacts. The Mauritius INDC also takes into account gender issues. The importance of gender mainstreaming is duly recognised in forthcoming initiatives such as the booklet “Guide pour la famille”, which illustrates practical actions which can be taken at household level to combat climate change. The Climate Change Bill makes provision for gender consideration in initiatives on climate change. MoESDDBM is presently reviewing its Gender Policy Statement of 2012 which adheres to the operational guidelines of the National Gender Policy Framework (2008). The Statement provides a framework for mainstreaming gender in policies, programmes and activities of the MoESDDBM. The Framework further provides guidelines to the public and private sectors, the media and civil society organisations to incorporate gender in their policies and programmes. It highlights key sectoral interventions and focuses attention on emerging areas so as to promote women’s equal participation with men as decision-makers and equal partners in shaping a sustainable development society. A user-friendly pamphlet on women and climate change has been developed under the AAP. In addition, a DVD entitled ‘fam ek sanzman klimatik’ has been produced for public awareness raising and education on climate change.
