Gender equality and climate change: the International Maritime Organization's impact on Mauritius climate justice.

Odusanya, Temitope Omotola

Abstract

This study examined gender equality and the International Maritime Organization (IMO's) impact in consideration to Mauritius climate justice. Women are directly, severely and inversely affected by climate change, yet they are typically overlooked, sidelined and neglected. Women are intensely affected by climate change - based on its impacts on agriculture, natural disasters and climate-induced migrations - because of social roles, discrimination and poverty. They are not only victims but also powerful agents and actors of change, and possess specific knowledge and skills to effectively contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation; however, they are largely under-represented in climate justice programmes. Despite the internationally-recognised gender disparity and various attempts to resolve it, it has been unsolved by the IMO regulators in Mauritius oil spill intervention. This research therefore analyzed the IMO's impact in Mauritius' environmental pollution saga. The study was anchored on a human rights theoretical framework, which was considered significant and apposite. This research adopted the qualitative, descriptive research design as the most appropriate to effectively carry out this study. Since it was explorative and generally qualitative in nature, data was obtained from secondary sources - predominantly, from relevant journal articles and e-resources. Data were content analyzed. Studies revealed that there is an institutional discrimination as well as poor governance structure within the IMO, which is preventing greater climate justice and women's representation in Mauritius. This paper therefore concluded that, at the current rate, women would have to wait over a hundred years in order to have equal access and proper representation in the domain of marine science. This means that a lot must be done under Mauritius' legal and social framework to effect positive and unchallengeable climate justice that also promotes equal participation. Finally, the study recommended that there should be enhanced cooperation, inclusive of both men and women. In addition, human rights principles of equity and fairness must be adhered to, so as to ensure adequate climate justice funding and research into adaptation measures that will help the poorest countries and those persons, groups and peoples most at risk - especially the less privileged. Imperatively, IMO representatives and regulators must wake up and do right by the people of Mauritius.

Citation

ODUSANYA, T.O. 2022. Gender equality and climate change: the International Maritime Organization's impact on Mauritius climate justice. Carnelian journal of law and politics [online], 3(1), article number II. Available from: https://carnelianjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Odusanya-CLJP-2.pdf

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 3, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 30, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 6, 2023
• Journal: Carnelian journal of law and politics
• Print ISSN: 2756-3146
• Electronic ISSN: 2756-3146
• Publisher: Carnelian Journal
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: II
• Keywords: Gender discrimination; Gender equality; Women in science; Climate justice; Mauritius
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1987392
• Publisher URL: https://carnelianjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Odusanya-CLJP-2.pdf
• Additional Information: The preprint for this article was originally hosted on SSRN: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3851382