Women and climate change impacts in Uganda:

Abstract

Climate change becomes the universally a major challenge facing humanity. The effects occur at global, regional, and local levels. It threatens the community, but not equally because women have limitations to access alternative resources such as movement to cities, jobs, and services. The climate change has impacted to women which increased in the levels of drought, death of livestock, scarcity of traditional food sources and water shortage in Uganda. There are decreased in crop production, loss of biodiversity, and solid fuels as firewood and charcoal for domestic use. Environmental degradation and human mobility are increased the availability of freshwater sources is reduced. There are also increased in wildfires, outbreaks of infectious diseases, climate-related displacements, armed conflicts, child marriages, human trafficking, epidemics, and gender-based violence. The quality of water for household use is reduced. The study showed that Ugandan women face different challenges from men because their societal roles have been constructed differently. Women in rural areas are depending mainly on natural resources more than men, therefore, they are more vulnerable to climate change. On other hand, women face socio-economic and political barriers and this makes them more susceptible and vulnerable to disasters. The study is emphasized the need for the development of robust support systems to cushion rural women from the vulnerable effects of climate change. Keywords: Climate Change impacts, Women, Uganda