Women, especially African women, have been shown to suffer the bigger brunt of the impacts of climate change.
Droughts and food insecurity has caused many women conditions such as gestational diabetes, iron deficiency and many more ailments. Their health is adversely affected by the effects of climate change more than men are, with heat waves or floods causing deaths of women at a higher rate.
For survival and child rearing, women rely more on natural resources meaning when these resources are affected by climate change, women and girls are at the first line of fire.
It goes without saying that women therefore are the biggest advocates of embracing environmental friendly practices such as low cost sustainable and innovative green energy.
At the ongoing Africa Climate Summit, the CS for Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action, Hon. Aisha Jumwa has spoken on the role of women in climate change. She has reiterated that African women leadership and voices must be at the center of climate change solutions.
The CS has also proudly been at the forefront of launching the first ever African Women and Gender Constituency. This will be a powerful force for change, amplifying the voices of African women and gender-focused organizations in climate action. In the run-up of the on-going African Climate Summit, selected women leaders from across Africa met in Nairobi and agreed on key messages to African Governments and African Union.
Hon. Aisha also received the outcome document and also made a commitment to advance the key messages by the Kenyan and African women within all the possible platforms within the Africa Climate Summit. The CS celebrated and acknowledged the multifaceted role the African women plays in their communities, economies and ecosystems, stating that their knowledge and resilience is not only invaluable also indispensable in the fight for climate change.
President Ruto has on numerous occasions reminded Kenyans and Africans at large that they are key players in effecting change in the country and continent. He has encouraged Kenyans to do the best they can to reverse the effects of climate change and has made a commitment with his government to protect, preserve and support the practices that uphold the reservation of the environment not for now but for future generations.