Introductory Chapter Summary

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In Joane Nagel’s introductory chapter, Nagel sets out to analyze the relationship between gender and climate change. She reinforces the argument that climate change affects women and men differently since gender roles occasionally do play a role.There are several factors that make men or women either more, less, or equally vulnerable to the effects of climate change. For instance, factors such as gender differences in men’s and women’s economic responsibilities, family duties, political rights, education, and health contribute to their level of vulnerability. Nagel argues that such variations in gender and sexual differences, as well as distinctions in gender roles globally, have crucial implications for understanding whether the impacts of climate change are similar to or …show more content…
She mentions that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in its 2013 AR5 report, reiterates that since the 1950’s, the atmosphere and ocean have warmed up significantly, the amount of snow and ice has been reduced, sea levels have risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased. Throughout the years, these numbers have only increased. It is very likely that the global mean temperatures will increase anywhere from less than 1 degree Celsius to more than 5-degree Celsius. However, there have been reports issued that aim to prevent a 4-degree Celsius world at all costs. Nagel, further, argues that a 4-degree world could present great challenges to humanity, such as heat waves, severe droughts, and major floods in many regions. If we were to achieve a 4-degree world, it would leave major impacts on ecosystems, land, and the people. She states that in the future, the burden of climate change will be borne differently by people in regions that are already highly vulnerable to global warming and