The BRICS countries face both the challenges of developing nations in facing climate change and bear the responsibility of the developed ones. These countries have been leaders for the developing world in climate negotiations and have taken responsibility and action to reduce their contribution to the problem. Yet, in the BRICS millions of marginalized people, especially women, face the everyday challenges of changing climates.
This paper explores the relationship between climate change and gender with a special focus on the BRICS countries. It argues that social innovations constitute positive tools for enhancing women’s adaptive capacity. First it examines how women are severely affected by climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in rural areas. The authors then emphasize the need for more gender-sensitive social innovations to tackle such effects, and provide a few examples within the BRICS. The hope is that more gender-sensitive solutions can spread worldwide, contributing to safeguarding the livelihoods of women not only in the BRICS but everywhere.
Gender sensitive initiatives presented here include:
- Brazil – Brazilian Women Leaders Network for Sustainability
- Russia – Local smallholders’ adaptive measures in the Altay Republic, West Siberia
- India – The CP-MUS/ Jalswarajya project in Maharashtra
- China – The Biogas project in Guangxi
- South Africa – Social entrepreneurship among female refugees in Johannesburg