United Nations Women urged the world to celebrate women on the International Women’s Day under the theme “Gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow” and call for climate action for women, by women.
According to UN, one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century is advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction
This is because women are increasingly being recognised as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most.
Based on the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “70% of the 1.3 billion people living in conditions of poverty are women”.
“In urban areas, 40% of the poorest households are headed by women”.
“Women predominate in the world’s food population (50-80%), but they own less than 10% of the land”.
“80% of the displaced by climate related disasters and changes around the world were women and girls”.
“Climate change may lead to more gender-based violence, an increase in child marriages and worsening sexual and reproductive health”.
On the positive, women and girls are said to be effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, an equal future, remains out of reach.
“Continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality,” UN suggested.
