Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the perception of Pakistani women about the socio-economic impact of climate change at macro and micro levels. To collect quantitative data, 384 paper-based questionnaires were administered to literate women with a tertiary education and 350 questionnaires to illiterate or semi-literate women. Eight community focus groups involved illiterate or semi-literate Pakistani women and eight university-based focus groups involved educated women. In-depth interviews of experts in one or more of the relevant research areas were also conducted. The present study revealed that climate change was causing a loss of livestock animals and a shortage of food that impacts both the local and national economy in Pakistan. Climate change increased unemployment causing people to move to the cities to find jobs and creating social unrest. The study also addressed the issue of whether climate change has triggered terrorism. The findings showed that although the majority of the Pakistani women believed social unrest was caused by climate change, however, there was actually less chance of terrorism due to this environmental phenomenon. Both the literate and semi-literate women believed climatic change had an impact on the health of people, sometime leading to deaths.

Keywords: climate change, gender, social impact, economic impact, health, unemployment, terrorism