New FAO report shows empirical evidence of climate change’s impact on rural women, poor, and youth

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will launch its new report “The Unjust Climate – Measuring the impacts of climate change on the rural poor, women and youth” on 5 March with a high-level panel discussion at the organization’s headquarters in Rome.

The report shows how the effects of climate change on income and adaptation in rural areas vary with gender, wealth, and age, utilizing new empirical evidence based on socio-economic data collected from more than 100,000 rural households in 24 countries, combined with 70 years of geo-referenced daily rainfall and temperature data.

Global efforts to tackle the climate crisis must address its impact on people, especially the most vulnerable. Because of their reliance on weather-dependent agrifood systems, climate change has a profound impact on the incomes and livelihoods of rural people in low- and middle-income countries.

Climate policies often acknowledge that women, youth, and people living in poverty are the most vulnerable to climate impacts. However, there is limited evidence to fully understand the extent and nature of the vulnerabilities faced by these groups.

The launch event will start at 15:00 CET at the Sheikh Zayed Centre at FAO headquarters.

Lauren Phillips, FAO Deputy Director of the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division will deliver opening remarks and the event will feature contributions by Maximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist, and Nicholas Stiko, FAO Senior Economist.

An in-depth discussion will follow, which will be moderated by Kaveh Zahedi, FAO Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment. Speakers include Shouro Dasgupta, Environmental economist from the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC); Lisa Schipper, Professor of Development Geography at the University of Bonn; Max Lawson, Head of Inequality Policy at Oxfam International; Reema Nanavaty, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) Director.

FAO Deputy Director-General, Maria Helena Semedo, will deliver closing remarks.

To follow the event on Zoom please pre-register here, or watch the live webcast here. The event will be available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian.

Journalists wishing to attend the event in person should send their accreditation request to [email protected], including a valid press card or letter of assignment on company stationery and a copy of a valid photo ID (passport/identity card).

To arrange interviews with FAO experts please contact [email protected]

Washington DC, 8 March 2024, 11:00 -12:00 EST

In Washington, DC on March 8, the Center for Strategic International Studies’ (CSIS) Global Food and Water Security Program will host “The Unjust Climate: Bridging the Gap for Women in Agriculture”.

This event will bring together high-level speakers from the U.S. government and FAO for a conversation about advancing gender equality within the context of global climate actions.

USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres-Small will provide the keynote speech. Presenting findings from FAO’s “The Unjust Climate” report, speakers will provide powerful new evidence on the diverse impacts climate change is having on women, as well as evidence about how investments and policies can be designed to ensure that both climate objectives and gender equality objectives are met. Opening remarks will be provided by Lauren Phillips, FAO Deputy Director of Rural Transformation and Gender Equity. A panel discussion with USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security Ann Vaughan and U.S. Department of State Senior Adaptation Advisor for the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Christina Chan will follow. FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero is slated to offer closing remarks.

The hybrid event will take place at the Center for Strategic International Studies, 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036 at 11:00 EST. A networking reception will begin at 12:00 EST following the event. The Center for Strategic and International Studies is accepting in-person and virtual registration at this link.  For further information, please contact Anita Kirschenbaum ([email protected]).