Fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved, rural and Indigenous women: a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in PeruResearch in context
Summary: Background: Climate change has profound impacts on women's health and wellbeing, particularly in the Global South, which is disproportionately affected by environmental threats. Peru, one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich countries worldwide, is uniquely vulnerable to these e...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | The Lancet Regional Health. Americas |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X2500119X |
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| author | Elaine C. Flores Annie F. Flores Blenda Abarca-Diaz Roberto Camizan-Castro Edinson Mendoza-Lozada Floro Ortiz-Contreras Ritsuko Kakuma |
| author_facet | Elaine C. Flores Annie F. Flores Blenda Abarca-Diaz Roberto Camizan-Castro Edinson Mendoza-Lozada Floro Ortiz-Contreras Ritsuko Kakuma |
| author_sort | Elaine C. Flores |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Background: Climate change has profound impacts on women's health and wellbeing, particularly in the Global South, which is disproportionately affected by environmental threats. Peru, one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich countries worldwide, is uniquely vulnerable to these effects due to its diverse ecosystems each facing distinct climate challenges. Yet research on the lived experiences of rural and Indigenous Peruvian women facing these impacts is scarce. We aim to explore the perspectives and experiences of underserved Peruvian women regarding the effects of climate change, and the needs, assets, and community responses to these threats. Methods: Between April and May 2022, we conducted 48 in-depth walking interviews with adult women from the Peruvian north coast, Amazon rainforest, and central and southern Andes regions. Using purposive and iterative snowball sampling, we recruited community key informants. We analysed the data thematically. Findings: Our analysis identified four main themes: (1) Local understanding of environmental changes, (2) Gendered impacts of climate change, (3) Women's participation in environmental governance, and (4) Pathways for gender-responsive climate action. Participants described vivid observations of environmental shifts, often attributing these to local human activities. Women reported increased caregiving responsibilities and economic vulnerabilities due to climate-related events. Barriers to women's participation in environmental decision-making were identified, including traditional gender roles and lack of voice in community forums. Participants highlighted the need for capacity building, leadership development, and integration of indigenous knowledge in climate action. Interpretation: This study underscores the imperative of centring gender equity and social justice in climate change adaptation and environmental governance. Findings highlight the urgent need to address systemic barriers, rebuild institutional trust, and adopt an intersectional, community-centric approach responsive to marginalised women's realities and priorities. Health systems should prepare for the mental health impacts of climate-related events on women, particularly increased anxiety and depression linked to resource insecurity and caregiving burdens. Policymakers should develop gender-responsive disaster preparedness plans, strengthen women's representation in environmental decision-making bodies, and create culturally appropriate climate communication strategies that integrate Indigenous knowledge systems. Implementation of targeted leadership training programs for women and establishing community-based environmental monitoring systems would enhance climate resilience while addressing gender inequities. Funding: This research was funded by ECF's postdoctoral fellowship from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Stanford University. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-72b0edeb095347598dea00bcef04fc09 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2667-193X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Lancet Regional Health. Americas |
| spelling | doaj-art-72b0edeb095347598dea00bcef04fc092025-08-20T01:49:05ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Americas2667-193X2025-06-014610110910.1016/j.lana.2025.101109Fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved, rural and Indigenous women: a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in PeruResearch in contextElaine C. Flores0Annie F. Flores1Blenda Abarca-Diaz2Roberto Camizan-Castro3Edinson Mendoza-Lozada4Floro Ortiz-Contreras5Ritsuko Kakuma6Centre on Climate Change & Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, Stanford University, Stanford, USA; Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Corresponding author. Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT, London, United Kingdom.Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, PeruUniversidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, PeruPuesto de Salud Pocitos, Tumbes, PeruC.S Centro America - Yarinacocha, Ucayali, PeruUniversidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de Huamanga, Ayacucho, Peru; Asociación Pro Fauna Silvestre, Ayacucho, PerúCentre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United KingdomSummary: Background: Climate change has profound impacts on women's health and wellbeing, particularly in the Global South, which is disproportionately affected by environmental threats. Peru, one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich countries worldwide, is uniquely vulnerable to these effects due to its diverse ecosystems each facing distinct climate challenges. Yet research on the lived experiences of rural and Indigenous Peruvian women facing these impacts is scarce. We aim to explore the perspectives and experiences of underserved Peruvian women regarding the effects of climate change, and the needs, assets, and community responses to these threats. Methods: Between April and May 2022, we conducted 48 in-depth walking interviews with adult women from the Peruvian north coast, Amazon rainforest, and central and southern Andes regions. Using purposive and iterative snowball sampling, we recruited community key informants. We analysed the data thematically. Findings: Our analysis identified four main themes: (1) Local understanding of environmental changes, (2) Gendered impacts of climate change, (3) Women's participation in environmental governance, and (4) Pathways for gender-responsive climate action. Participants described vivid observations of environmental shifts, often attributing these to local human activities. Women reported increased caregiving responsibilities and economic vulnerabilities due to climate-related events. Barriers to women's participation in environmental decision-making were identified, including traditional gender roles and lack of voice in community forums. Participants highlighted the need for capacity building, leadership development, and integration of indigenous knowledge in climate action. Interpretation: This study underscores the imperative of centring gender equity and social justice in climate change adaptation and environmental governance. Findings highlight the urgent need to address systemic barriers, rebuild institutional trust, and adopt an intersectional, community-centric approach responsive to marginalised women's realities and priorities. Health systems should prepare for the mental health impacts of climate-related events on women, particularly increased anxiety and depression linked to resource insecurity and caregiving burdens. Policymakers should develop gender-responsive disaster preparedness plans, strengthen women's representation in environmental decision-making bodies, and create culturally appropriate climate communication strategies that integrate Indigenous knowledge systems. Implementation of targeted leadership training programs for women and establishing community-based environmental monitoring systems would enhance climate resilience while addressing gender inequities. Funding: This research was funded by ECF's postdoctoral fellowship from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Stanford University.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X2500119XGender equityEnvironmentClimate changeQualitative researchPeru |
| spellingShingle | Elaine C. Flores Annie F. Flores Blenda Abarca-Diaz Roberto Camizan-Castro Edinson Mendoza-Lozada Floro Ortiz-Contreras Ritsuko Kakuma Fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved, rural and Indigenous women: a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in PeruResearch in context The Lancet Regional Health. Americas Gender equity Environment Climate change Qualitative research Peru |
| title | Fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved, rural and Indigenous women: a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in PeruResearch in context |
| title_full | Fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved, rural and Indigenous women: a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in PeruResearch in context |
| title_fullStr | Fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved, rural and Indigenous women: a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in PeruResearch in context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved, rural and Indigenous women: a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in PeruResearch in context |
| title_short | Fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved, rural and Indigenous women: a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in PeruResearch in context |
| title_sort | fostering leadership and gender equality in climate action among underserved rural and indigenous women a qualitative exploration of opportunities and limitations in peruresearch in context |
| topic | Gender equity Environment Climate change Qualitative research Peru |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667193X2500119X |
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