Introduction

On December 6th, the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) hosted a webinar titled “The Intersection of Climate Change and Gender in India’s Coastal Regions.” This was the inaugural session of the Indian Coastal Think Tank Network (ICCN), supported by the Asia Foundation. The network aims to foster a coalition of coastal think tanks, focusing on themes such as climate change and gender, coastal security, blue economy, disaster management, coastal ecology, fisheries, tourism, maritime domain awareness, and ports and shipping.

The webinar featured two experts on Climate Change and Gender Dr. Dhanushree Jayaram, Senior Assistant Professor at Manipal Academy of Higher Education; and Ms. Sanakshi Saluja, Research Manager at the National Institute of Urban Affairs. Ms Manvi Tripathi, Program officer at Asia Foundation also gave her remarks about the thematic area as well. 

Key Discussion Points

1. Overview of the Indian Coastal Think Tank Network Project
2. Climate Vulnerabilities in Coastal Regions
3. Socio-Economic Impacts on Women
4. Migration and Displacement
5. Governance and Women’s Participation

About the Panellists

• Dr. Dhanasree Jayaram

Dr Dhanasree Jayaram is  a Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, and Co-coordinator, Centre for Climate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), India. She is also a Research Fellow, Centre for Public Policy Research (India), Research Fellow, Earth System Governance Alliance; Member, Climate Security Expert Network; Non-resident Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs; Visiting Fellow, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (India); and Associate, Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (Hiroshima University).

She was a Research Fellow at Centre Marc Bloch and Guest Researcher at Freie Universität, Berlin – under the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s International Climate Protection Fellowship in 2022-2023. She pursued a visiting fellowship (Erasmus Mundus) at Leiden University, the Netherlands in 2014-15; and a postdoctoral fellowship at University of Lausanne, Switzerland, under the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship in 2018-19.

Dr Dhanasree’s areas of research include environmental and climate security; climate diplomacy; environmental geopolitics in Southern Asia, Indo-Pacific, and polar regions; gender and climate governance; and geopolitical/security implications of solar geoengineering. 

• Sonakshi Saluja

Sonakshi Saluja is an economist by training, is currently a Research Manager – Climate Adaptation at NIUA (National Institute of Urban Affairs). She holds an experience of 10 years working in the climate change and energy sector cross-cutting through social and policy research and gender analysis. She has been awarded various fellowships including the Professional Fellows for Governance and Society by US Department of State and International Climate Protection Fellowship by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany.

• Aleena T Sabu (Moderator)

Aleena T Sabu is a Research Associate of the International Relations vertical at the Centre for Public Policy Kochi, Kerala, India. She is currently working on the Indian Coastal Think Tank Network project and had previously worked on a paper with Vice Admiral MP Muralidharn on the Global Security Implications of the Bay of Bengal. Aleena has completed her Master’s in Politics and International Relations from Pondicherry University and Bachelor’s in Political Science (Hons) from Delhi University

Summary of the Discussion

Project Introduction 

• The event began with Manvi Tripathi from the Asia Foundation emphasizing the collaborative framework of the Indian Coastal Think Tank Network (ICCN), which aims to address both traditional and non-traditional coastal challenges.
• The network will promote research, collaboration, and advocacy for solutions related to climate change, coastal security, the blue economy, and other coastal issues.

Climate Vulnerabilities and Gender Inequality:

• Dr. Dhanushree Jayaram highlighted the strong link between climate vulnerabilities in coastal regions and entrenched gender inequalities.
• Women in these areas are more exposed to the negative impacts of climate change due to their caregiving, farming, and water-collecting roles, yet their needs are often overlooked in policy.

Exacerbation of Vulnerabilities Due to Societal Norms:

• Ms. Sanakshi Saluja discussed how societal norms and financial dependence limit women’s ability to respond effectively to climate disasters.
• Women face challenges in accessing disaster relief, insurance, and early warning systems due to cultural factors and lack of mobility.

Need for Gender-Sensitive Climate Policies:

• The discussion emphasized the importance of integrating gender considerations into climate change adaptation policies to address women’s unique vulnerabilities and harness their potential as agents of change.
• Active participation of women in governance and decision-making processes is crucial for creating sustainable and inclusive solutions for coastal communities.

 Hygiene and Proper Sanitation

• Women in coastal areas do not have access to hygienic toilets or bathroom facilities, when they go for work, and sometimes post the disasters in many areas, access to sanitation facilities became a luxury for the women in the region. 

Participatory Approaches in Governance 

• The webinar concluded with both the panelists agreeing that a participatory approach from men is quite necessary to address climate change vulnerability in the coastal area. 
• Men along with women must equally advocate for women’s rights and better treatment in the coastal regions. 

Key Takeaways

• Gender-Sensitive Climate Policie
  Climate change policies in coastal regions must address gender disparities by integrating gender-specific needs and challenges. This will ensure that both men and women can equally benefit from climate adaptation strategies and that women’s vulnerabilities are acknowledged and mitigated.

• Empowerment through Financial Independence and Mobility
  For women to effectively participate in decision-making, disaster preparedness, and recovery, they must have access to economic resources and mobility. Empowering women through financial independence can strengthen their capacity to respond to climate challenges.

• Migration Policies for Women’s Vulnerabilities
  Migration policies should be designed with a focus on the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women. This includes ensuring that women are not left behind with additional caregiving responsibilities, and that they have access to resources and support when migration occurs.

• Increased Representation of Women in Governance
  Women’s representation in local governance is essential for effective climate adaptation and disaster management. Including women in decision-making processes can lead to more inclusive and tailored responses to climate challenges at the community level.