UN finds women less able to cope with climate change

Chinese women are more vulnerable than men to the negative impact of climate change, the new United Nations Women report has warned.

The report, released on Monday in Beijing, stated that women have less income, land resources and credit opportunities than men.

They also have reduced access to non-farm employment opportunities, which reduces their ability to improve their own adaptation opportunities.

Women also get much less skills training with 72 percent of women never undertaking training, while only 46 percent of men miss out.

The survey found that a quarter of male respondents and only one in five females knew how to access disaster contingency measures.

The report showed that Chinese women had a limited role in decision-making related to climate change, environmental protection and disaster prevention and reduction, whether in the family, community or important institutions.

Julia Broussard, from the UN Women China organization, said raising awareness about the need for gender equality in this area also help alleviate poverty as women who are field laborers suffer in natural disasters, leading to homelessness

The UN hopes to use the findings to improve women's position, she said.