New Delhi, Aug 2 (FN Representative) Climate crisis and its impacts are not ‘gender-neutral’, the Child and Development Minister Annapurna Devi said on Friday emphasising that women from lower economic backgrounds face some of the most severe effects of climate change. Replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha, the Minister informed that the Government has not conducted audit regarding the impact of climate change on women and children. “However, a report submitted by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change revealed that women, especially those from lower economic backgrounds, face some of the most severe effects of climate change,” she said. “Globally, it is now accepted that the climate crisis and its impacts are not ‘gender-neutral’,” She added. “UNICEF has recognized that Children are more prone to dehydration due to their lower ability to regulate body temperature, making them more vulnerable to heatwaves and high temperatures,” the Minister informed.
She further mentioned, “Climate change may cause crop failures and rising prices, which in turn may lead to increased rates of malnutrition among children.” Citing a recent study done by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in 2024 that examines the implications of climate change on women and children across various agro-ecological zones in India, the Minister informed, “This study reveals that women and children in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Telangana are especially vulnerable to climate-related disasters.” Children exposed to climate hazards are more likely to experience stunting, underweight conditions, and increased susceptibility to early pregnancies,” She said. “According to the study, exposure to drought events raises the likelihood of underweight women by 35 percent, child marriage by 37 percent, teenage pregnancy by 17 percent, and intimate partner violence by up to 50 percent,” the Minister added. Highlighting that the Government recognizes the adverse impact of climate change on women and children, Annapurna Devi said, “It has taken several steps to mitigate the vulnerabilities.
A National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has been launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2019 with the goal to reduce morbidity, mortality, injuries and health vulnerabilities to climate variability and extreme weather events especially among vulnerable groups like women, children and marginalized communities.” “Various activities for increasing general awareness, capacity building of health care professionals and healthcare workers, strengthening health sector preparedness, collaborative partnership and steering research on climate sensitive health issues are the key objectives of the programme,” she added.
The Government implements the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which is the overarching policy framework and comprises of National Missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, health, green India and strategic knowledge on climate change, the Minister said. Further, schemes like Ujwala Yojana, which provides for clean cooking gas connections, Har Ghar Nal se Jal under Jal Jeevan Mission, which provides for tapped drinking water at the doorstep, Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan under which crores of household toilets have been constructed, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the flagship scheme of Government for housing, have not only reduced the drudgery on women but also help improving their health status and empowerment, she added.