Género y cambio climático en América Latina

This case study examines the intersection of gender and climate change in Latin America, analyzing how biological and sociocultural factors increase women's vulnerability. It evaluates the state of the art regarding gender-sensitive climate strategies and provides detailed analyses of two national frameworks: Peru's Gender and Climate Change Action Plan (2016–2021) and Mexico's Special Programme on Climate Change (2014–2018).

• Women's vulnerability to climate change is driven by a synergy of biological factors (sex-based physical and hormonal differences) and sociocultural factors (gender-based discrimination, violence, and exclusion).
• Biological differences contribute to higher female mortality during heatwaves and increased susceptibility to vector-borne diseases; for example, higher fat concentration in breasts, buttocks, and hips reduces body cooling efficiency, leading to dehydration.
• Sociocultural gender roles increase women's exposure to climate risks, as they spend more time on unpaid domestic work, such as collecting water, food, and fuel, and are more likely to remain in the home where they are exposed to insects and fumigation chemicals.
• In Peru, women perform 75 hours of unpaid domestic work per week, which is 24 hours more than men, illustrating the economic and social disadvantages that heighten climate vulnerability.
• Despite their vulnerability, women possess significant potential as agents of change, particularly in creating rural distribution networks for sustainable energy and implementing innovative solutions for sustainable development.
• Peru's Gender and Climate Change Action Plan (PAGCC 2016–2021) is the first instrument in Latin America to specifically articulate climate strategies based on women's needs, though it faces implementation hurdles including a lack of specific budget and a lack of national priority in the current government plan.
• Mexico's Special Programme on Climate Change (PECC 2014–2018) integrates gender perspectives across three of its five objectives, focusing on reducing population vulnerability, managing biodiversity with equal opportunity, and ensuring equitable participation in forest community training.
• Implementation of gender-sensitive climate policies in both Peru and Mexico is hindered by weak institutionalization, insufficient technical capacity among staff, and a lack of political will to challenge deep-seated cultural and social power dynamics.
• There is a global trend where climate change may reverse gains in gender equality by disrupting livelihoods and causing a resurgence of traditional gender roles.

APA

Zegarra, M. T. A. (2017). Género y cambio climático en América Latina. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Arana_G%C3%A9nero-y-cambio-clim%C3%A1tico-en-Am%C3%A9rica-Latina-ULTIMOS-CAMBIOS_05-de-JULIO-1.pdf

Chicago

Zegarra, Maria Teresa Arana. Género y cambio climático en América Latina. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2017. https://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Arana_G%C3%A9nero-y-cambio-clim%C3%A1tico-en-Am%C3%A9rica-Latina-ULTIMOS-CAMBIOS_05-de-JULIO-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zegarra |first1=Maria Teresa Arana |title=Género y cambio climático en América Latina |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Arana_G%C3%A9nero-y-cambio-clim%C3%A1tico-en-Am%C3%A9rica-Latina-ULTIMOS-CAMBIOS_05-de-JULIO-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zegarra2017gnero, author = {Zegarra, Maria Teresa Arana}, title = {{Género y cambio climático en América Latina}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, url = {https://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Arana_G%C3%A9nero-y-cambio-clim%C3%A1tico-en-Am%C3%A9rica-Latina-ULTIMOS-CAMBIOS_05-de-JULIO-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }