Climate Crisis, A Threat To The Future Of Women And Children In Southern Africa

By Shingirai Vambe

As the Southern African Development Community (SADC) prepares to convene for its upcoming summit, the region is grappling with the devastating impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events are threatening the well-being of women and children, who are disproportionately affected by this global crisis.

Energy is decreasing daily with most industries going for renewable energy sources which are still under pilot projects.

In Southern Africa, women are often the primary caregivers and providers for their families. They are responsible for fetching water, growing food, and collecting firewood. However, climate change is making these tasks increasingly difficult. Droughts and floods are contaminating water sources, destroying crops, and depleting forests.

Children, particularly girls, are also vulnerable to the effects of climate change. They are more likely to be forced into early marriage, miss out on education, and suffer from malnutrition and related health problems. In some cases, they are even forced to drop out of school to help their families adapt to the changing climate.

As a result, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has confirmed a sharp increase of school dropout for the year 2023 against the previous year, 2022, in most cases, climate change as the driving factor.

The SADC region is already experiencing the harsh realities of climate change. Cyclone Idai displaced thousands of people, mostly women and children, and destroyed entire communities. In Zimbabwe, droughts have led to widespread crop failures, leaving millions of people, mostly women and children, without access to food.

Ahead of the summit, there is a growing call for urgent action to address the climate crisis and its disproportionate impact on women and children. Governments, civil society organizations, and international partners must work together to increase funding for climate resilience and adaptation programs that prioritize the needs of women and children.

Implementation of various strategies has been a problem exacerbated by resource constraints and it is the wish of key stake holders to Implement policies and programs that promote gender equality and empower women to take leadership roles in climate decision-making, support climate-smart agriculture and water management practices that benefit smallholder farmers, mostly women.

However, there is need for the provision of education and training opportunities for women and children to acquire skills in climate-resilient livelihoods.

The SADC summit presents an opportunity for the region to come together and address the climate crisis. It is time for leaders to take bold action to protect the future of women and children in Southern Africa.