Gerry Brady, CSO IrelandUNECE 26-28 April, 2010

Presented by Helen Cahill, CSO Ireland

OverviewGender and sex disaggregation of economic and

social statistics is reasonably well-developed This disaggregation is accepted as an essential

view in understanding the data, differences in the lives of men and women, and in economic and social policy formulation

Gender disaggregation of environmental data may in time become just as important

However people-oriented environmental indicators have not yet been developed

Hence we currently have a set of genderless environmental statistics

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Need for environment gender viewThe behaviours and consumption of people are a

primary cause of environmental damageThe decisions and behaviours of women and men

may have different impacts on the environmentMen and women may respond differently to

policies addressing environmental concerns through modifying their behaviour and consumption

The black box of how men and women respond to climate and environment concerns requires gender disaggregated environmental statistics

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Example statistical areas of interest2009 Eurobarometer attitudes to climate change

surveyPersonal consumptionTransportRecyclingEnergy useDecision-making in industries using raw materialsDecision-making in environmental policy areasConsequences of environmental damage on men and

women (water, food, living locations, income earning etc.)

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2009 Eurobarometer SurveyA survey of Europeans’ attitudes towards most

serious problems facing our world today

Climate change was ranked as the second most serious problem by both men and women

Survey looked at recycling, energy and water consumption in the home, buying local produce to reduce transportation requirement, car related activities, air transport, renewable energy

Survey identified differences in the attitudes and behaviours of men and women

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Eurobarometer continuedWomen were generally more responsive to

changing their behaviours towards more environmentally friendly practices

e.g. 58% of women, who were taking personal action, reduced home water consumption compared with 51% of the men who were taking personal action

Survey showed that it was possible to identify and collect people-oriented environmental indicators

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Eurobarometer: Men/Women taking personal action

Persons taking personal action % of men % of women

Separating waste for recycling 76% 81%Reducing consumption of energy at home 61% 66%

Reducing consumption of water at home 51% 58%

Reducing consumption of disposable items 38% 43%

Buying seasonal and local products 26% 32%Environmentally friendly transport mode 27% 29%

Reducing use of their car 25% 23%Purchasing a more environmentally friendly car 24% 17%

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Personal consumptionIs there a significant difference in the impact

on the environment in the quantity and type of goods consumed by men and women?

Would require environment effect factors at detailed product level (reflecting raw material composition of products and usage effect on the environment)

Could household purchase surveys be adapted to collect some basic data on personal consumption and green influences on which products to purchase ?

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TransportData from the 2006 Census of Population in Ireland

showed that women are more likely to drive to work

Men hold more than half of full driving licences in Ireland

A detailed travel survey analysing mode of travel, vehicle size and ownership, fuel consumption, purpose of journeys, whether other passengers were carried etc. would be very useful

Data on travel/journey purposes from time use surveys may also be useful e.g. to bring children to school

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Recycling and energy conservationLabour force survey module in Ireland in 2005 on

Recycling and Energy Conservation

Women had higher rates of recycling products such as paper, cans, plastic and clothing

Recycling data suggested that behaviours of men who lived alone were worse than if women also lived in the household => more consistent behaviour of women

There were smaller differences between men and women in relation to energy conservation measures with women more likely to be pro-active

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Single person households – recycling ratesItem recycled % of men living

alone% of women living alone

Overall 69% 82%Paper 60% 75%Aluminium cans 60% 72%Tin cans 59% 73%Glass 57% 69%Cardboard 56% 70%Plastic 45% 57%Clothing 30% 56%

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Single person households – energy conservation

Energy conservation method

% of men living alone

% of women living alone

Double glazing 62% 70%Lagging jacket 63% 73%Attic/roof insulation 56% 63%Draught stripping 42% 45%CFL light bulbs 22% 30%

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Going ForwardDiscussions needed regarding whether

gender and people dimensions should be mainstreamed into environmental statistics

Would require adding some new people related environment indicators into existing international sets

May require making changes to existing survey methodologies

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Going forward (continued)

This data would allow policy attempts to change behaviour to focus more clearly on behaviours of particular segments

Alternative is environmental statistics unable to distinguish socio-demographic including gender differences in behaviour and responsiveness to environmentally friendly practices

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