Show them (and us) the money!

... women - particularly those in poor countries - will be affected differently than men. They are among the most vulnerable to climate change partly because in many countries they make up the larger share of the agricultural workforce and partly because they tend to have access to fewer income earning opportunities. Women manage households and care for family members which often limits their mobility and increases their vulnerability to sudden weather-related natural disasters. Drought and erratic rainfall force women to work harder to secure food, water and energy for their homes. Girls drop out of school to help their mothers with these tasks. This cycle of deprivation, poverty and inequality undermines the social capital needed to deal effectively with climate change. In addition because women are disproportionately involved in subsistence farming, natural resource management and water collection in developing countries they are more likely to be affected than men by the effects of soil erosion, desertification, droughts, water shortages, floods and environmental changes. Both in gradual and sudden migration and displacement scenarios, pre-existing patterns of discrimination and abuse are often aggravated ...

According to UN Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates, women produce more than 50 per cent of all food grown worldwide, and from 60 per cent to 80 per cent in most developing countries. With the importance of women in food production and preparation, and the potential for land use to contribute to climate change solutions in developing countries, the interconnectedness of gender, farming and climate change demands the immediate attention of the Rudd government if it genuinely wishes to provide effective aid. And effective aid will require genuine financial commitment.

The report also goes on to say that the success of adaptation strategies will depend on the participation of indigenous peoples. The same view was recently echoed by World Bank chief Robert Zoellick. Will the Rudd government incorporate these respected international views in its consideration of climate change related legislation or funding decisions?

For more than a year the Rudd government has been spruiking to the world about our healthy Australian economy, so they should expect the world to be watching closely to see how much we actually commit to helping developing countries. And the watchers will also be looking to see first, just how much is “new” commitment or spending, and second, exactly where the money - our money - is going.