Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Glaring ‘Own Goal’ by Patriarchy

By Prof. Yukio Kamino

Part 1 of 5 : Climate Crisis and Gender: A Call to Consciousness

Have you noticed how dramatically today’s weather differs from just a few decades ago? Across the globe, rapidly changing climate patterns are unleashing catastrophic disasters—scorching heatwaves, devastating wildfires, prolonged droughts, unprecedented hurricanes, and destructive flooding. This article invites She Sight readers to deepen your ecological consciousness and share these insights with friends and young people everywhere.

This piece introduces our transforming Earth System, with particular attention to how gender dynamics drive this phenomenon. Most societies today remain gender-unequal patriarchies—political and economic systems dominated by males who systematically exclude females from decision-making positions. Patriarchy is notorious not only for its unfairness to women, but also for its destructive impact on humanity and the entire Earth System: our atmosphere, lands, oceans, and biosphere.

When human technology was modest, men’s capacity for destruction remained limited. Today, however, that destructive power has reached suicidal levels, symbolised most starkly by the massive nuclear arsenals held by numerous states. Even seemingly innocent practices like burning fossil fuels release pollutants into our atmosphere, creating disasters and claiming countless victims worldwide. Since the Industrial Revolution, this practice has steadily built up layers of greenhouse gases (GHG) in our atmosphere, heating the planet. Global warming has triggered climate change, bringing devastating weather patterns to every corner of the world. Human-made “natural disasters” now dominate the 2020s, killing thousands annually and making even humanity’s long-term survival uncertain—a reality that deeply concerns many experts.

Reflecting on these ominous developments, I began wondering how many SheSight readers fully grasp the basic facts about atmospheric transformation. This concern is particularly acute because many of you have grown up under male-directed patriarchy, which can be not only unfair and violent, but profoundly deceptive. I therefore proposed to She Sight’s editor that we disseminate factual information to readers and, through you, to young people broadly.

What happened in the past? Why has today’s situation become so dire? What will occur if we fail to make courageous, creative interventions? SheSight kindly understood my concerns, and we agreed to publish this work in segments across multiple issues. We hope this article illuminates essential points so you can develop your own informed perspective on these issues. Then, She Sight readers can spread this understanding widely—to save your generation and those to come.

Over the next four parts of this series, we will explore: the physical processes of GHG and their impacts (Part 2), a selective review of global warming science since the 19th century (Part 3), the US government’s honest and dishonest responses to scientists’ warnings around 1970 (Part 4), and patriarchy’s infamous disinformation campaign that began in the 1980s, leaving much of the world’s citizenry confused and paralyzed (Part 5).

This concludes Part 1 of our series. I invite you to reflect deeply on these introductory concepts and discuss them with your friends and family. Next week, Part 2 will examine the scientific mechanisms behind greenhouse gases and their devastating impacts on our planet. Together, we will build the knowledge necessary to challenge the destructive systems that threaten our future. Until then, stay conscious, stay engaged, and prepare to act.

VIP Columnist

Dr. Yukio Kamino is a distinguished resource person at OISCA International, a Japanese NGO devoted to promoting ecological sustainability. With a rich academic foundation in social sciences, humanities, and metaphysics, he has contributed extensively to the fields of ecofeminism and sustainable development. Kamino’s research and writing skillfully intertwine feminist principles with ecological wisdom, illuminating the urgent need for female-led approaches to environmental crises. His work continues to inspire global dialogues on achieving a fairer, more inclusive, and ecologically conscious world.

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