The landscape and structure of Antigua and Barbuda make it particularly susceptible to extreme weather events like hurricanes and storms. For instance, in 2017, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria destroyed $136 million worth of physical assets, harming the tourism industry and significantly reducing the available housing on the island. International institutions and organizations have partnered with local governments to strengthen the island’s resilience to hurricanes and other weather events. Here is what some are doing to address disasters in Antigua and Barbuda.

Aid to Address Disasters in Antigua and Barbuda

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) granted more than $46 million to the island’s state environmental department to “climate-proof” local buildings and make them less likely to be damaged during climate-related disasters. With financing from the European Union, the UNDP allocated $5.7 million to help recovery efforts after Hurricane Irma. 

These environmental disasters and extreme weather events negatively impact women more than men. There remains a structural preference towards men in matters of inheritance, marriage and community and state programs of land distribution. Because of this male preference for asset control, management and distribution, women have less access to economic opportunities than men, which may force them to rely financially on men. With less access to income-generating activities, disasters can impact women the most as they may lack the financial stability to bounce back rapidly from the damages that an environmental disaster causes. This also puts women at risk of gender-based violence as fewer economic opportunities could make them more financially reliant on men. 

Women are also overrepresented in the service and tourism industry, an industry which is particularly affected by weather-related disasters. Additionally, when schools close because of weather events, data shows that women are more likely to stay home and care for their children, missing out on the income from their work. Female-headed households are often more vulnerable to natural disasters as they are often single-parent and tend to be larger, with women often caring for dependents like children or elderly family members. After the hurricanes Maria and Irma, studies demonstrated that women paid 1,000 more dollars in damages to recover from the disaster than men. 

A Progressive Rise in Female Representation in Governmental Bodies and Initiatives 

One way to mitigate the gendered impact of environmental disasters would be to ensure accurate political representation of women in governmental bodies. Currently, women hold only 11% of the seats in the national parliament of Antigua and Barbuda, which makes policies and decision-making less susceptible to reflect all the intricacies of the gender inequality still affecting women in Antigua and Barbuda. However, women are more involved in recovery initiatives after environmental disasters and often take charge in the aftermath of these disasters through their work with organizations such as the Barbuda Council, a local governmental institution with more women than men among its members. The Environmental State Department also launched an internship program for university students meant to turn into full-time positions upon graduation. More women than men enrolled in the program, leading to the department now primarily being staffed with women in 2021.

These positive changes in the government have translated into more state initiatives to reduce the gendered impact of environmental disasters. The Environmental State Department has committed to specifically targeting and reducing gender-based vulnerabilities in the face of weather events. 

The Sustainable Island Resource Framework

In partnership with the UN Environment Program, Antigua and Barbuda has also created the Sustainable Island Resource Framework, a funding allocation mechanism dedicated to reducing the effects of environmental disasters and changing weather patterns. The Fund has expressed its intent to integrate the protection and prioritization of vulnerable groups such as single mothers and children in its decision-making. These developments cast a positive light on the future in terms of reducing the gendered impact of environmental disasters. 

– Tatiana Gnuva
Photo: Flickr