Equal exposure, unequal effects of climate change: Gendered impacts on food consumption and nutrition in rural Bangladesh

IF 6.6 2区经济学 Q1 ECOLOGY

Ecological Economics Pub Date : 2024-12-13 DOI:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108486

Jaweriah Hazrana, Pratap S. Birthal, Ashok K. Mishra

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

In low- and middle-income countries, disparities in nutrition between men and women represent a significant source of gender inequality, a challenge that is exacerbated by climate shocks. This study examines the impact of droughts on food consumption and nutrition across age and gender cohorts in rural Bangladesh. We utilize georeferenced climate data and panel data from surveys in rural Bangladesh. Findings reveal that droughts lead to an 8.4 % reduction in food expenditure and a decrease in calories, protein, and fat intake by 5.7 %, 5.5 %, and 8.2 %, respectively. The effects are disproportionate across age groups in the household. Women experience a greater decline in food consumption and nutritional intake compared to men, with elderly women being the most severely affected group. Additionally, droughts lead to a less balanced diet, marked by decreased consumption of nutrient-rich animal-source and plant-based foods and an increased reliance on cereals. While safety nets help mitigate the adverse effects of droughts, they do not fully restore consumption to pre-drought levels. Findings from this study highlight the need for targeted interventions that address the specific vulnerabilities of different demographic groups and enhance the effectiveness of safety nets.

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来源期刊

Ecological Economics 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

12.00

自引率

5.70%

发文量

313

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： Ecological Economics is concerned with extending and integrating the understanding of the interfaces and interplay between "nature''s household" (ecosystems) and "humanity''s household" (the economy). Ecological economics is an interdisciplinary field defined by a set of concrete problems or challenges related to governing economic activity in a way that promotes human well-being, sustainability, and justice. The journal thus emphasizes critical work that draws on and integrates elements of ecological science, economics, and the analysis of values, behaviors, cultural practices, institutional structures, and societal dynamics. The journal is transdisciplinary in spirit and methodologically open, drawing on the insights offered by a variety of intellectual traditions, and appealing to a diverse readership. Specific research areas covered include: valuation of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and development, ecologically integrated technology, integrated ecologic-economic modelling at scales from local to regional to global, implications of thermodynamics for economics and ecology, renewable resource management and conservation, critical assessments of the basic assumptions underlying current economic and ecological paradigms and the implications of alternative assumptions, economic and ecological consequences of genetically engineered organisms, and gene pool inventory and management, alternative principles for valuing natural wealth, integrating natural resources and environmental services into national income and wealth accounts, methods of implementing efficient environmental policies, case studies of economic-ecologic conflict or harmony, etc. New issues in this area are rapidly emerging and will find a ready forum in Ecological Economics.