Kerri Whittenbury

Research, Action and Policy: Addressing the Gendered Impacts of Climate Change

In the context of a potentially global climate crisis, does gender matter? This book sets out to answer this question, drawing together research from across the globe to demonstrate that in areas as diverse as Australia, Canada, Africa, Asia and Europe, there is emerging evidence that gender does matter. It matters because the experiences of women and men during and after times of climate crisis are different – a difference based on cultural norms and practices, on work roles and access to resources, on safety and security and on different levels of vulnerability resulting from a combination of these factors. We are pleased to present this book, a product of our Gender and Climate Change conference held in Prato, Italy, in 2011. This conference was organized and auspiced by the Gender, Leadership and Social Sustainability (GLASS) research unit at Monash University, Australia. The focus of the book is on research, policy and action – what we know, what we need to know, how we might formally respond in order that support for the most vulnerable is forthcoming and that actions taken are transparent and focused on increasing the resilience of all affected by climate change.

Climate change and water policy in Australia's irrigation areas: a lost opportunity for a partnership model of governance

That climate change mitigation strategies may disproportionately affect rural people and communities is evidenced by the introduction of water mitigation policies in Australia. The significant consequences of water policy for irrigation farming families and communities in Australias Murray–Darling Basin – the food bowl of Australia – are outlined. This policy emerges from a hierarchical model of governance and has resulted in uneven and perverse outcomes for people in rural areas. Lack of attention to metagovernance and a misplaced trust in the water market has left rural people and communities vulnerable to significant stress and disaffection, impacting on their resilience and adaptability to change. A partnership model of governance is suggested to guide climate change mitigation policies to ensure that the capacity of rural people and communities to adapt to significant change is enhanced rather than eroded.

Water policy, trust and governance in the Murray-Darling Basin

ABSTRACT Concerns for river health in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) area and shifting priorities for water use have led to a significant process of water reform over the last decade. The MDB area, also known as the food bowl of Australia, produces much of the countrys food and is home to a significant portion of the population. A long-term drought, historical over-allocation of water for irrigation and climate variability have led to mounting concerns about the long-term viability of the rivers. While the reform process has resulted in the Commonwealth government taking control of the rivers from the States, it has also been influenced by changes in governments and consequent shifts in water allocation priorities from a privileging of agriculture to a broader approach encompassing economic, environmental and social concerns. This had led to uncertainty for the people and communities in the Basin and some confusion between the various layers of governance structures. This paper presents the results of exploratory research conducted with key, high-level stakeholders involved in water reform to examine their perceptions of the evolving water policy process. Despite agreement amongst stakeholders that returning water to the environment to ensure river health is critical, our research reveals significant tensions between stakeholders concerning the evolving process, particularly centred on the potential social outcomes and fairness and equity. This suggests the need for more integrated and transparent governance structures, attention to levels of trust between partners and a common vision that incorporates environmental, economic and social goals.

Beyond Adoption: The Need for a Broad Understanding of Factors That Influence Irrigators' Decision-Making

Abstract The conventional approach to encouraging water use efficiency among irrigators has been to promote the adoption of technology and tools designed to achieve water use efficiency. However, adoption rates of such technology are low. Relatively little is known about what influences irrigators decisions in their day-to-day irrigation practices. The adoption literature focus is from the perspective of the providers of innovative technology with little information from the perspective of the intended users of the technology: growers. Adoption decisions, although important, are only one aspect of farm decisionmaking. There is a need for research into irrigators’ decision-making that broadens the focus from adoption per se to other sorts of irrigation/farm decisions including exploring the experiential and intuitive knowledge of growers and developing an understanding of personal, socio-cultural and structural factors that may influence decisions. This will assist in the development of water saving tools and initiatives that better meet irrigators’ requirements.

Climate Change, Women’s Health, Wellbeing and Experiences of Gender Based Violence in Australia

Australian rural women’s health and well being is impacted by declining water availability to agricultural industries and rural communities. Rural women are subject to increasing demands on their time as a consequence of declining water and these demands are significantly impacting on women’s health and well-being. This chapter reports findings from research undertaken in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin investigating the impacts of declining water on women’s health and well-being. Impacts include being overloaded by work, caring and financial responsibilities and becoming increasingly financially responsible for family sustenance as farm incomes decline. There are increases in work related family separations and marital breakdowns and women report experiencing stress related symptoms such as depression. Findings indicate significant levels of family disruption and increasing incidences of violence against women associated with drought and income related stress. It is important that policy makers recognise these impacts so that specific and appropriate support services are provided in communities affected by declining water availability.

Social impacts of reduced water availability in Australia’s Murray Darling Basin: adaptation or maladaptation

This paper outlines water reform policy in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin area. Drawing on research with key informants and farm family members, it notes the significant social impacts in the communities in the region and the limits to adaptation evident amongst people in these areas. It outlines the vulnerability of individuals and communities and notes the need for actions to build resilience and to enable transformation in these areas. With this in mind, policy strategies are outlined that may assist long-term social sustainability in this region.