Youth, Gender and Climate Resilience: Voices of Adolescent and Young Women in Southern Africa

Abstract

In contrast to the dominant ‘vulnerability narrative’ applied to studies of gender, age, and other intersectional characteristics in determining differentiated impacts of climate change, there is growing attention to the agency and voices of young people in the context of their development futures in a changing climate. This paper draws on Feminist Participatory Action Research undertaken by adolescent girls in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Centred on access to education, the findings prompt a reframing of youth agency and empowerment beyond instrumental concerns to integrate intrinsic factors that include self-fulfilment, recognition from others, status, and self-resilience. The research demonstrates how young people’s enquiry can help to surface the underlying structures of inequality shaping both their gendered experience of climate change and the response options available. Tackling structural issues may be beyond the conventional scope of climate change projects and policy, but gender and youth concerns require more than incremental changes. Rather, harnessing opportunities from low-carbon and climate-resilient futures requires understanding and tackling structural drivers of gender inequality that influence development opportunities for young people.

Essential Ecosystem Area Policies as a Means to Promote Participatory and Inclusive Conservation in Forest Landscape Governance: Centering Perspectives of Marginalized Women in Taman Kili-Kili, Indonesia

“…Meanwhile, communities dependent on natural resources are the most likely to suffer from the negative impacts of climate change as climate can serve as a threat multiplier. Gendered climate injustice , for example, can be catastrophic and in patriarchal societies in Southern Africa (Tanner et al, 2022). On the other hand, forest governance schemes in some communities can increase the capacity for marginalized communities, as has been documented in Central Kalimantan (Soubly et al, 2020).…”

“…On the other hand, forest governance schemes in some communities can increase the capacity for marginalized communities, as has been documented in Central Kalimantan (Soubly et al, 2020). Indeed, research shows that community-based inclusive governance models can assist in proving clear conservation outcomes, while also improving community ownership rights, and supporting livelihoods (Tanner et al, 2022).…”