[Voice & Visibility] Women & Climate Change Stakeholder Consultation

On 9 August 2023, our Voice & Visibility team organised a stakeholder consultation on women & climate change. A huge thanks to all participants from a set of groups of diverse actors- from women & gender, environmental, women’s healthcare, gender budgeting, disaster relief, residents associations, to both former and current Selangor councillors. Your inputs are pivotal in enhancing the local and overall national comprehension of the women-climate nexus, while also fostering robust social ties through mutual learning. The entities present were:

• Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
• Kemban Kolektif
• Family Frontiers Malaysia
• Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
• Gabungan Darurat Iklim Malaysia (GDIMY)
• Coalition of Kuala Lumpur Residents’ Associations (KLRA+)
• Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)
• National Council of Women’s Organisations Malaysia (NCWO)
• MERCY Malaysia
• KUASA Perak
• The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
• All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
• Former & current state councillor in Selangor
• Gender Budget Group

In Malaysia, as in many parts of the world, there exists a glaring data gap, especially when it comes to the twin themes of gender and climate. Even basic gender-disaggregated data is sparse, making policy formulation and solution-crafting an uphill task. But why is this gendered perspective so essential? Because without it, we overlook the specific and often intensified impacts of climate change on women. Women, bearing the brunt of these impacts, become the silent sufferers in a narrative that ought to be theirs to share.

The consultation convened stakeholders ranging from women & gender, environmental, women’s healthcare, gender budgeting, disaster relief, residents associations, to both former and current Selangor councillors.

Beyond Bricks and Mortar

While infrastructural solutions like flood barriers are often prioritised as the primary response to climate disaster, they don’t encompass the full complexity of the issue. The climate crisis isn’t merely about altering landscapes; it’s a transformative force that changes lives. Vulnerable populations — women, the elderly, children, and differently-abled individuals — find themselves at the crossroads of multiple challenges, requiring solutions tailored to their specific needs. Hence, a focus on soft policies that prioritise the social aspects is crucial. These policies aim to address the intricacies of the societal landscape because, without acknowledging these, we can’t build resilience among the people affected. Adaptation to climate change is fundamentally a social process, and solely relying on hard policies” like flood mitigation won’t achieve the necessary resilience. A holistic approach that integrates both infrastructural and social measures is essential for a comprehensive and sustainable solution.

Dato’ Sri Maznah Mazlan (NCWO) underscores the importance of recognizing and valuing care work. Currently, the care industry, referred to as “Ekonomi Penjagaan” by the NCWO, spans a broad spectrum, including childcare, elderly care, and care for the disabled and bedridden. Despite the crucial role these caregivers play, they often lack recognition, protection, and incentives.

We navigated an array of thematic challenges specific to Malaysia. These ranged from addressing the evident lack of gender and climate-related data to evaluating the nation’s climate policy frameworks such as the energy transition plan and their relevance to gender.

There were extensive discussions centered on the recurrent floods in Malaysia and their implications for women, especially in terms of recovery. Challenges faced by women, such as securing aid or accessing loans to support their businesses. Furthermore, we delved deep into the intricacies of women’s care work, examining how climate change has compounded, and potentially intensified, their burdens.

Suri Kempe (Kemban Kolektif) speaks about the need to recognise and address the gender disparity in unpaid care work in the context of climate change and disasters.

By the end of the consultation, we collected a wealth of information and insights, especially in relation to these thematic issues, stood as a testament to the varied impacts of climate change in Malaysia. These perspectives are invaluable. They not only enrich our understanding but also provide diverse angles to formulate effective and inclusive solutions.

This series is crucial for our ongoing research, aimed at bridging knowledge gaps in the national women and climate change discourse.

It’s clear: Effective climate policies stem from inclusive consultations. It’s also vital to identify sectors where women are disproportionately affected by existing inequalities. We’re committed to broadening the platform for women’s voices and promote gender sensitive policies in these intersections.

This article is made possible by the support of people like you. Let’s increase the visibility of climate stories and build Malaysia towards a just transition.

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