The following is an extract from our chat with Missing Perspectives.
Pasanna Mutha-Merennege is the Policy & Advocacy Manager at Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA). She speaks to Missing Perspectives following the catastrophic Los Angeles fires that have forced forced more than 180,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Pasanna touches on the likely effects of the fires on women and children, the importance of providing “support shaped by what women and gender diverse people need”, and how she thinks that the “ferocity of these LA fires is the extreme impacts of our climate breaking down”.
What we’re seeing play out in the ferocity of these LA fires is the extreme impacts of our climate breaking down. We’ve now had a decade of the hottest temperatures on record with 2024 likely to be the hottest year ever according to the World Meteorological Organisation. It’s created catastrophic and unprecedented fire conditions all over the globe.
We know from our experience here in Australia, that women and gender diverse people are often first responders in bushfires. They’re the ones connecting with their communities, organising material aid, creating informal networks, and providing emotional support.
They’re also taking on additional care responsibilities – looking after children who are unable to go to school as well as for elderly family members. We know from the evidence that there are really significant health impacts of bushfire smoke on people that are pregnant and breastfeeding and gender-based violence is known to increase during and after disasters.
The evidence from disasters in Australia, such as the Black Saturday bushfires, demonstrates the disproportionate effects on women with disabilities, First Nations communities, people who identify as LGBTIQ plus and gender fluid, and women from refugee and migrant communities.
Women and gender diverse people that face intersecting discrimination struggle to access safe and appropriate emergency support and facilities such as evacuation centres.
Longer-term recovery is more difficult – particularly in relation to housing, insurance and their physical and mental health.
We really need to place women and gender diverse people, their expertise and their leadership at the heart of resilience building.
For example, how are we valuing the knowledge of First Nations women in bushfire preparedness? How are we creating solutions with women with disabilities and recognising and elevating the leadership of women from migrant and refugee communities. The research demonstrates that solutions that are created with women and gender diverse people are the ones that are most likely to be effective during times of disaster.
Care comes in many forms and is shaped by what women and gender diverse people need, particularly those experiencing intersectional barriers. What matters is that those on the ground are listening to and implementing the solutions from those most affected and those who are least likely to be listened to!