INDIGENOUS WOMEN & CLIMATE CHANGE (original) (raw)
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This paper highlights the ways in which relations of power, specifically those of gender, shape knowledge production, resource distribution, decision-making and thus, adaptation to climate change. I utilize feminist standpoint theory and geographic conceptualizations of social reproduction to argue that policies and programs that seek to enhance adaptation to climate change must understand how gender affects differential access to resources and decision-making in the context of climate variability. Specifically, I argue that situated knowledge and social reproduction are useful conceptual tools for analyzing how women's daily activities and social locations shape what they know and how they respond to social and environmental stressors like drought. In making this argument, I present the results of fieldwork conducted in two rural communities in Mexico's semi-arid highlands to empirically explore the significance of gender in the production of knowledge, provisioning of reso...
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While the gender approaches in dominant climate policies are concerned with making inequalities and gaps visible, the solutions to which they point are framed within the strategies established by the global governance of climate change: to develop, adapt and mitigate. Plural Latin American feminisms, on the other hand, make visible and question the power relations that are causing climate change from an intersectional perspective. They propose comprehensive strategies based on their situated knowledge, reconnecting abstract global warming with what happens in specific territories. In this article we review how, from a historical perspective, the evolution of global environmental policy was interwoven with those of the diverse feminisms in Latin America: popular, indigenous and Afro, decolonial, and communitarian feminisms. We discuss how these subjects, from their intersectional views, their situated knowledge and their practice of struggle, open up new horizons from which to face climate change and the other dimensions of a crisis of civilizational scope.
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This paper highlights the ways in which relations of power, specifically those of gender, shape knowledge production, resource distribution, decision-making and thus, adaptation to climate change. I utilize feminist standpoint theory and geographic conceptualizations of social reproduction to argue that policies and programs that seek to enhance adaptation to climate change must understand how gender affects differential access to resources and decision-making in the context of climate variability. Specifically, I argue that situated knowledge and social reproduction are useful conceptual tools for analyzing how women’s daily activities and social locations shape what they know and how they respond to social and environmental stressors like drought. In making this argument, I present the results of fieldwork conducted in two rural communities in Mexico’s semi-arid highlands to empirically explore the significance of gender in the production of knowledge, provisioning of resources, and the different ways that households adapt to climate change. This kind of critical engagement between feminist and adaptive capacity approaches opens up a conceptual space for reflection and encounters that move the debates closer toward addressing the challenges that climate change presents.
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Like other communities, Indigenous peoples must adapt to climate-induced ecological variations like sea level rise, glacier retreat and shifts in the habitat ranges of different species. In ongoing conversations on climate change, some Indigenous women articulate how seriously they take the specific responsibilities they perceive themselves to have within the systems of responsibilities that matter to their communities. Such responsibilities can range from acting as custodians and teachers of local ecological knowledge to acting as conveners of political movements aiming at respectful co-existence with neighbors. For these Indigenous women, the responsibilities that they assume in their communities can expose them to harms stemming from climate change and other environmental changes. Yet at the same time, their commitment to these responsibilities motivates them to serve as enablers of adaptation and mitigation. efforts. This paper offers a starting point for the following positions: Some Indigenous women have their own unique capacities for collective action that advance adaptation and mitigation. Non-Indigenous parties’ political responsibilities should involve deferring to Indigenous women’s own knowledges of and motivations for collective action. Deference can be expressed through political institutions that bolster the conditions needed to support Indigenous women’s collective actions. In many cases, deference is incumbent on Indigenous national governments and political organizations. Further work beyond this paper should seek to further clarify the political reforms needed to support Indigenous women’s collective agencies for adapting to and mitigating climate change.
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This paper explores Indigenous women-led climate solutions through an anti-racist lens. Indigenous communities, particularly women, are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis Yet, they possess valuable knowledge and resilience rooted in their deep connection to the land and environment. By centering Indigenous women's voices and experiences, this reflection aims to shed light on their innovative strategies, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and countering their intersecting oppressions. Following decolonial and relational theoretical frameworks, we learned that Indigenous women's leadership and traditional land-based knowledge offer unique perspectives and solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation. We emphasize the importance of respectful and reciprocal relationships, listening to Indigenous voices, and amplifying their calls for justice and equity. Indigenous women helped us to challenge systemic injustices and work towards collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable climate solutions that centre Indigenous women's knowledge, leadership, and self-determination. We can forge a path toward a more just and resilient future for all by uplifting Indigenous voices.