Women have a lower carbon footprint than men but are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of global warming, according to the United Nations’ State of World Population report.

Women drive and fly much less than men and purchase fewer carbonintensive goods. The research found that women in industrialised countries were more likely to buy ecologically friendly and organic foods, were more likely to recycle rubbish and more interested in efficient energy use.

The report quoted a US research finding that women responded more positively than men to advertising for products that companies claimed were less detrimental to the environment. Women were also generally less likely than men to trust governments and corporations to solve environmental problems and more likely to want to take action personally to address these. The difference in attitude to environmental problems was more pronounced at higher income levels.

Last year in Sydney a survey of suburban residents about environmental sustainability found it was easier to attract women to co-operative and socially focused initiatives. Men were less likely to get involved in sustainability and were more drawn to technical and business solutions rather than personal action when discussing environmental issues.

The report also found that dietary differences contributed to women’s lower carbon footprint. It said: “Not only do women eat less in proportion to their body size but at least in some countries they consume a more vegetable-oriented and less meat-based diet.”

Men tend to eat much more meat. In Denmark, men eat 139 grams of meat daily on average compared with women, who eat 81 grams.

The report concluded that climate change “threatens to amplify the inequities between women and men.

“Women — particularly those in poor countries — are affected differently from men. Women are among the most vulnerable to climate change, partly because in many countries they make up the larger share of the agricultural workforce and partly because they tend not to have access to as many income-earning opportunities as men,” it said.

“Women manage households and care for family members, which often limits their mobility and increases their vulnerability to sudden weatherrelated natural disasters.”

The report also found that drought and erratic rainfall forced women to work harder to secure food, water and energy for their homes. Girls were more likely than boys to drop out of school to help their mothers with these tasks.

The report concluded: “Because of greater poverty, lesser power over their own lives, less recognition of their economic productivity and their disproportionate burden in reproduction and childraising, women face additional challenges as climate changes.

“Marginalisation of and discrimination against women and the lack of attention to the ways gender inequality hampers development, health, equity and overall well-being, all undermine a country’s resilience to climate change.”

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