Speaker
Description
The impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and tidal flooding, significantly affect communities. These include changes in livelihoods, migration due to environmental changes, household finances, health, and education. Climate change poses major challenges for communities, particularly women and vulnerable groups. These groups often face barriers and issues related to gender discrimination arising from the impacts of tidal flooding, such as unequal access to resources, information, and participation in decision-making. Meanwhile, responses to disasters tend to focus on infrastructure development, with few strategies addressing interconnected social justice issues or paying attention to nature-based solutions. This suggests that policies related to adaptation strategies do not demonstrate gender integration, and the needs and roles of women and vulnerable groups are not addressed fairly and inclusively.
This research emphasizes the importance of a gendered approach to strategy planning through inclusive engagement. Quantitative methods and data collection were conducted through observational surveys, roundtable discussions, and in-depth interviews in coastal settlements in Jakarta, Semarang, Demak, and Pekalongan Cities, with 400 respondents consisting of women and children under 16. The results showed three main findings. First, climate change impacts household finances, with more than 80% of the women participating in the survey reporting that their income was affected by climate change. As many as 75% of female respondents' homes were damaged by disasters, causing increased spending on home repair costs. These increased costs push families into poverty. Second, sea level rise and land subsidence have impacted traditional livelihoods in coastal areas, hence, women and children are being forced to work in the informal sector without certainty of employment, wages, and other rights as workers to meet family needs. The lack of alternative skills makes it difficult for them to adapt or shift to new livelihoods. Third, there is a link between school dropout and working children, climate change impacts, and migration. The economic pressure on families due to climate change and the school enrolment of children affected by migration means that children are forced to work at home and not attend school. Access to transportation to school is also disrupted by flooding.
In terms of gender recommendations for inclusive engagement strategies, this research reveals two important recommendations. First, social development strategies need to pay attention to social cohesion in decision-making. Guaranteeing the inclusion of women's and children's voices, and providing space for meaningful participation will strengthen the community consultation process, so that the resulting policies can accommodate community needs effectively. Community empowerment and capacity building need to be integrated into adaptation strategies. Pathways to well-being, safety and economic empowerment need to be mapped and tailored to both formal and community-based interventions. The research also highlights the importance of existing “community champions” in the community, which can be used as a starting point for future interventions, including initiatives in capacity building.
Second, there is a need for social security for women working in the informal sector. Increasing the effectiveness of women's economic empowerment, including training, access to soft loans (micro-enterprise credit), marketing, and strengthening support groups for women in coastal communities. In addition, community-level research on alternative livelihoods (including green economy) and women's empowerment and involvement in decision-making should be encouraged. Initiatives related to child safety and protection, for example by providing access to quality education, and providing psychological support for families affected by disasters to support families in overcoming their increased vulnerability during and post-disaster. These recommendations are expected to encourage adaptation policies that are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of women and other vulnerable groups.
| Keywords | Climate Change Disaster, Gender, Inclusive, Coastal Settlements |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
