women and sustainability

I saw a pile of newspapers resting spotlessly inside the drawer, unsure if I would be able to make garbage bags out of them. Touted as a “no glue and no-stapler pin paper bag,” the instructions on how to craft this on my phone screen looked rather daunting. My origami skills were put to the test as I made the first crease, the last and all the folds in the middle.

More than two years ago, I decided to cut down on single-use plastic in the home. When my attempt at making bin liners was successful, I began using old newspapers to replace plastic garbage bags with paper-liners made by hand. Likewise, I favor paper or fabric for regular storage purposes. Additionally, I prepare batches of homemade bio-enzymes for surface cleaning instead of using store-bought chemicals.

Sustainability easily finds a place within the larger framework of conscious living. Naturally, even at the peak of the lockdown, such practices were sacrosanct.

Growing concerns about climate change and environmental degradation have led to the introduction of sustainability as a way of life. Within a little over a century since the pre-industrial era, we’ve warmed the Earth by about 1.2 degrees Celsius. This in turn is causing periods of intense and unreliable heat globally that is affecting life and destroying habitats. In addition, as the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the use of single-use plastics such as masks, gloves and face-shields, it has sharply increased the overall level of plastic waste.

the stakes are high. Climate change and environmental degradation together are a moment of truth for mankind. Interestingly, women across the world have been at the forefront of major initiatives that tackle both climate and environmental challenges. A study of 25 developed and 65 developing countries shows that countries with high female parliamentary representation are more likely to reserve protected land areas. In the world of commerce, research shows that corporations that have more women on their boards make better investments in renewable energy. The primary governing body of a business is to have at least two women in attendance, so that it can integrate more eco-friendly activities into its practices. Similarly, better outcomes await forest conservation initiatives, when women lead forest management, as evidenced by evidence from India and Nepal.

In poor households and rural areas, women regularly do extra labor in the form of fetching drinking water, traveling long distances to collect firewood, initiating measures to keep their homes from overheating during the summer . If these tasks are left unfinished, it can threaten the well-being of women and their families, as well as a decline in their quality of life. Harnessing this resourcefulness of women, advocacy groups and organizations around the world have launched programs to empower grassroots communities to respond to the effects of the changing climate. These women-led communities are implementing climate resilient solutions such as rainwater harvesting and sprinkler taps, low-cost roof cooling options to lower temperatures within homes, and soil conservation and tree planting.

In some situations, women may be denied any choice and, therefore, pro-environmental or climate sensitive initiatives are the result of a lack of choice. In other scenarios, pursuing such activities may be a purely personal decision. That said, the relationship between women and sustainability is healthy. The relationship is almost inextricable, although not completely incomprehensible. The role of nurturer, comforter and caring for others is primarily cast upon women at the cost of forgetting to take care of themselves. Of particular importance is the inherent ‘maternal instinct’ in women that makes them work hard for the long-term security and prospects of the people they are surrounded by. Since these aspects are related to the future, it is necessary to regulate the behavior and be careful in the present. Such nuances place women in the position of patroness – the skill of the greater good certainly demands a certain refinement. The role of women looking after families makes them ideal as stewards of natural resources. So when society preaches health over wealth, conservation over waste and cleanliness over carelessness; Women, in one form or the other, have been his hardworking actors.

Expectedly, this has enormous policy implications. For a future where sustainability is a way of life, a more gender diverse labor force is the way to go. It calls for a systematic end to the current system of under-representation of women in energy, transport and other sectors. The crisis unites and this time it presents a new opportunity to reduce gender inequality in the workforce and involve more women in decision-making. Or perhaps, the challenge of gender inequality has morphed itself into a new bottle of climate and environmental degradation. Whatever lens is used to investigate this emergency, justice based solutions will be the mainstay of dealing with it.

Fortunately, the world has enough existing solutions to ensure that more women have access to opportunities for participation in the economy. There is nothing like past visions and past experiences are reminders to negotiate the traps of stereotyping, slotting and judging women – instead, a fine-toothed comb is needed to keep women at the heart of a sustainable future. Oh and speaking of combs – I recently switched to one made from neem wood.

aanchal.govindani@gmail.com