Climate Adaptation Interventions in Coastal Areas: A Rapid Review of Social and Gender Dimensions

Abstract

Adaptation responses to climate change in coastal and marine contexts include ecosystem protection and restoration, structural defence, as well as livelihood diversification (Gattuso et al., 2018; He and Silliman, 2019). While there is a need to act rapidly to support coastal communities to undertake these adaptations, this should not be at the expense of achieving gender equality, or worse still lead to an exacerbation of inequalities. In many places, women are already exposed to disproportionate risks to health and income through structural disadvantage manifested as poor labour conditions or cultural norms that may reduce access to information or decision-making spheres (Alston, 2013; Pearse, 2017). Ignoring the gender dimensions of climate adaptation interventions may mean that the experiences of those who are already sidelined in the context of fisheries and coastal livelihoods (Musinguzi et al., 2018) continue to be rendered invisible, further compounding inequalities of various natures.