Women, Men and Environmental Change: The Gender Dimensions

This is the second in PRB's series on emerging policy issues in Population, Health, and Environment: Making the Link. It examines the gender dimensions of environmental policies and programmes, highlighting how gender differences play a part in natural resource use, how resource depletion affects women and men differently, and what has been done worldwide to integrate gender concerns in environmental planning.

Women and men have different opportunities to participate in decisions regarding natural resource use. These opportunities reflect gender-based roles and responsibilities in their lives, families, households, and communities and are based on different access to, control over, and knowledge of natural resources. Understanding the dynamics between gender and the environment helps decision makers develop realistic strategies to manage natural resources sustainably and to plan for better human health and well-being.