Women in poor counties are more susceptible to the devastating consequences of climate change, says 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. While men have more flexibility when it comes to relocating, women and children dependent on natural resources are generally less mobile and, as a result, cannot escape the harsh natural conditions that have become characteristic of many regions in Africa. War, malnutrition, disease and environmental woes in developing countries are not likely to remain at the status quo, let alone improve, without significant effort and cooperation on behalf of wealthier counterparts in terms of both foreign aid and climate change mitigation.

"Many destructive activities against the environment disproportionately affect women, because most women in the world, and especially in the developing world, are very dependent on primary natural resources: land, forests, waters," said Wangari Maathai of Kenya.

"Men can trek and go looking for greener pastures in other areas in other countries ... but for women, they're usually left on site to face the consequences," she said. "So when there is deforestation, when there is drought, when there is crop failure, it is the women and children who are the most adversely affected."

"If you don't deal with development and climate, you will have an increasingly insecure world," Williams said. "But if you're going to deal with it, you need to deal with it in terms of climate justice."

That meant rich countries, including the United States, must cut their own pollution and greenhouse emissions -- not just offer aid for environmentally sound development.

To improve the quality of life for women in developing nations, one must look at the link between climate and development. It is imperative that international attention be focused on forcing wealthier countries to abide by preventative measures, so long as they pay less fortunate countries to do the same.

Reuters; May 7, 2008

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