Climate change and gender analysis: struggles with neoconservative backlash in Australian politics

Gender relations are a significant aspect within climate change policy, response and management, or mitigation and adaptation. We have shown that some in the mass media and some neoconservative politicians tend to denigrate women politicians and prominent women who speak out on climate change in ways that seek to undermine their legitimacy and trustworthiness. It is our hope that by exploring the strategies used to frame this debate , by naming them and indicating their effects on the climate change discussions, we may stimulate further reflection on these strategies. Exploring the way that gender is framed through these strategies has indicated that these strategies are not new but rather age-old reactions to women in public life. Gender can be attributed prominence in climate change policy, response and management. Women around the globe indicate they are part of the solution to climate change and we are encouraged by how women are taking leadership nationally and internationally in addressing climate change.