Climate change and complexity of gender issues in Ethiopia

This chapter highlights the complexity of climate change-related gender issues in Ethiopia, while also recognizing the role of social class. It discusses the potential climate change issues from a women's health perspective. Women from low socio-classes and their children are less likely to survive natural disasters. Rainfall variability and erratic distribution of rainfall have adversely affected economic growth. The link between water scarcity and food security is a key factor in Ethiopia, where people rely on rain-fed agriculture. In a changed climate, poor women in particular will be burdened with food preparation, distribution, and cultural expectations related to food management. The country's population mobility can be increased due to increasing levels of extreme poverty, environmental degradation, natural disasters, and social conflicts. The risk of outbreaks of communicable diseases in warmer climates can be higher among conflict-affected populations, which is related to a breakdown of public health infrastructure.