Gender equality and climate change: The need for protecting rural women of sub-sahara Africa

Climate change is a global hazard and a danger to humanity. Its impact is sensed by both the industrialized and the non-industrialized countries of the world. The African continent, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is overwhelmed by the various influences of climate change due to its agrarian way of life. Climate change is felt by all humans, but more on the vulnerable, such as rural women. It impinges on the enjoyment of her fundamental human rights and also heightens some existing gender inequalities, thereby making her more vulnerable to climate change. Gender equality is a fundamental human right as enshrined in international and regional norms, which state parties are bound to observe, while human rights are a platform for social justice. Gender equity is a vital tool to achieving climate justice and sustainable development. This paper analyzed the correlation of climate change, gender equality, and sustainable development. It focused on how the establishment of a human rights methodology can protect the rural woman through existing international human rights norms. The doctrinal method of legal research was adopted in the analysis. It was found that many African countries have good laws in line with their international commitments towards gender equality, human rights, and climate change, yet the rural woman is not protected due to a lack of implementation and insincerity of governance. It was the recommendation of this paper that a gender-responsive climate change, among other things, would be a better approach in solving the climate change crisis.