Approaches to Economic Empowerment of Rural Women for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Implications for Policy

There are several ways of promoting women’s economic participation while also counteracting climate change. One approach in the field of climate mitigation is the promotion of renewable energies that help avoid greenhouse gas emissions. The potential of rural women as agents of change for climate mitigation and adaptation remains untapped: Their extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of the environment and resource conservation is not given due consideration. In terms of economic participation, they are not paid for the environmental services that they already provide (example, reforestation). The potential contribution of rural women to climate mitigation by being part of the economic cycle is not sufficiently exploited. The economic empowerment of women through climate mitigation and adaptation fosters economic growth and socioeconomic development, reduces poverty, keeps environmental problems in check, and increases the potential for adaptation, which is to the benefit of both women and men. Enhancing the economic empowerment of women is a catalyst for development, which helps boost a country’s economic growth, promotes the socioeconomic development not only of women, but of the entire population, and helps reduce poverty. It is observed that less attention is paid to the potential that lies in the combination of climate mitigation/ adaptation and the economic empowerment of rural women. Yet mitigation or adaptation activities offer opportunities to advance the economic empowerment of women. In particular, this applies to work that is already being undertaken by women or activities in which women could assume a leading role. In developing countries, for instance, women frequently play a major role in the reforestation and afforestation of cleared land and in forest conservation, yet they have hardly ever benefited from these environmental services. The paper addresses the economic empowerment of rural women through climate change mitigation and adaptation. The study recommends that measures to promote the economic participation of women can be integrated into climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives. In order for rural women to play an economic role, an institutional, legal and political framework is required that enables and/or makes it easier for rural women to hold their own in the market. Concrete, promising project measures at the local level should therefore be combined with advisory services at the political level related to climate change and the economic empowerment of women, with a view to initiating structural reformÂ

Approaches to Economic Empowerment of Rural Women for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Implications for Policy

There are several ways of promoting women’s economic participation while also counteracting climate change. One approach in the field of climate mitigation is the promotion of renewable energies that help avoid greenhouse gas emissions. The potential of rural women as agents of change for climate mitigation and adaptation remains untapped: Their extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of the environment and resource conservation is not given due consideration. In terms of economic participation, they are not paid for the environmental services that they already provide (example, reforestation). The potential contribution of rural women to climate mitigation by being part of the economic cycle is not sufficiently exploited. The economic empowerment of women through climate mitigation and adaptation fosters economic growth and socioeconomic development, reduces poverty, keeps environmental problems in check, and increases the potential for adaptation, which is to the benefit of both women and men. Enhancing the economic empowerment of women is a catalyst for development, which helps boost a country’s economic growth, promotes the socioeconomic development not only of women, but of the entire population, and helps reduce poverty. It is observed that less attention is paid to the potential that lies in the combination of climate mitigation/ adaptation and the economic empowerment of rural women. Yet mitigation or adaptation activities offer opportunities to advance the economic empowerment of women. In particular, this applies to work that is already being undertaken by women or activities in which women could assume a leading role. In developing countries, for instance, women frequently play a major role in the reforestation and afforestation of cleared land and in forest conservation, yet they have hardly ever benefited from these environmental services. The paper addresses the economic empowerment of rural women through climate change mitigation and adaptation. The study recommends that measures to promote the economic participation of women can be integrated into climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives. In order for rural women to play an economic role, an institutional, legal and political framework is required that enables and/or makes it easier for rural women to hold their own in the market. Concrete, promising project measures at the local level should therefore be combined with advisory services at the political level related to climate change and the economic empowerment of women, with a view to initiating structural reformÂ

Toxicity study of diethyl phthalate on Clarias gariepinus fingerlings

Diethyl Phthalate (DEP) is used as a plasticizer, a detergent base, in aerosol sprays, as a perfume binder and after shave lotion. It is known to be a contaminant of fresh water and marine ecosystem. Therefore, a study was designed to determine the acute toxicity effects of DEP on a fresh water fish, Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. The fish was treated with 50, 75, 100 and 150 μg/l. DEP was dissolved in distilled water to determine the LC50. There was 100% mortality observed in 150 μg/l. The LC50 of DEP was estimated at log toxicant concentration as 2.217, 2.734, 3.435 and 3.931 μg/l at 24, 48, 72, 96 h and 1.871μg/l for the total death. This shows that the impacts are dose and time dependent with respect to marked reduction in mortality rate. At sub-lethal concentrations of the test substance at 30, 40, 60 and 80 μg/l in a renewal bioassay system, the water and the test compound were changed intermittently. One group was maintained as a control in dechlorinated water. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in brain and muscle AchE activity compared to the control. The liver ACP activity was statistically significant (P < 0.05) at day 15 while the muscle ACP in other treatment groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Liver AST showed no significance in all treated groups (P > 0.05) and liver ALT activity was statistically significant (P < 0.05) at day 30 only. The haematological parameters (HB, PCV, RBC and WBC) carried out showed that haemoglobin and erythrocyte levels estimated in all treatment groups to the duration of exposure showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) compared to the control. The park cell volume showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) at day 30 only. The leucocyte count throughout the exposure period showed that the mean values are statistically significant (P < 0.05) at day 15 only compared to the control. The mean cell volume (MCV) showed a significant difference at day 15 (P < 0.05) whereas mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) throughout the exposure period. No significant difference was seen between the lymphocytes and the neutrophils. In day 0 and 15 only, the monocytes and the lymphocytes showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). The gill damages indicated toxicity of DEP with raised lamella, oedema of the lamella epithelia, loss of lamellar epithelium, mild oedema and raising of the filament. The liver damage showed focal necrosis and vacuolization, hepatocyte degeneration in the liver. These alterations may have long term effects on that that are continuously exposed to DEP in the aquatic environment.Keywords: Diethyl phthalate, Clarias gariepinus, acute toxicity, sublethal toxicity, heamatology, biochemical, histopathology, environment

Use of Indigenous Knowledge as a Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation among Farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for Policy

The study discusses use of indigenous knowledge as a strategy for climate change adaptation among farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The local farmers in this region through the indigenous knowledge systems have developed and implemented extensive adaptation strategies that have enabled them reduce vulnerability to climate variability and change over the years. However, this knowledge is rarely taken into consideration in the design and implementation of modern mitigation and adaptation strategies. This paper highlights some indigenous adaptation strategies that have been practiced in sub- Saharan Africa and the benefits of integrating such indigenous knowledge into formal climate change adaptation strategies. The study recommends the need to incorporate indigenous knowledge into climate change policies that can lead to the development of effective adaptation strategies that are cost-effective, participatory and sustainable.SCIENCEDOMAIN international www.sciencedomain.or