Among the many effects of rapid climate change, women are finding it harder to manage their domestic responsibilities—like cleaning, cooking, gathering resources—and caring for the elderly as well as their children, noted authors of the Observer Research Foundation.

While the impact of climate change on women the world over is the same, the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) and the Women & child development department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh (GoAP), recently signed an MoU to study the impact on women of the hilly state.

The MoU aims to promote equitable gender roles and responsibilities in climate-resilient community resource management, protecting vulnerable communities like women and children, and ensuring distributive justice in the Pakke Tiger Reserve 2047 Declaration.

Professor Saket Kushwaha, vice chancellor of RGU, expressed confidence that the MoU will be action-oriented and productive because the area chosen for the research is solely for the good of Arunachal Pradesh, which actually focuses and intends to conduct it under the Panch-Dhara strategies.

RGU registrar Dr N T Rikam said that the objectives based on the MoU will yield its desired results and will be mutually beneficial for both organizations.

The impact of climate change on women has gained significance over the recent past. For instance, in an article on Five Reasons Why Climate Action Needs Women, the United Nations Climate Change pointed out that women often face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change in situations of poverty and due to existing roles, responsibilities and cultural norms.

For example, in many societies, women are responsible for household energy, food, water and care for the young and elderly. Particularly in developing countries, the consequences of climate change can increase the burden for women and girls, for example, causing them to travel further to obtain daily supplies, leaving less time for paid work and potentially exposing them to greater risk to their personal safety, UNFCC said in the report.