Equal Women participation in Climate Action means a sustainable future for generations

Equal Women participation in Climate Action means a sustainable future for generations.

^{Figure 1Photo Courtesy https://achievebrowncounty.org/2021/05/defining-equity-equality-and-justice/}

Climate action is a collective responsibility in addressing impacts of climate change  at all levels. It has been said that women are far more affected by the impacts of climate change. Women have been fighting for equality for decades, for example access to education, having equal opportunities at home, in the workplace, policy and governance. However women’s representation in the fight towards climate action has been significantly low.

According to UNICEF, the widespread drought has in turn caused the number of child marriages to increase in the areas of Ethiopia. Recently in Kenya, we saw girls being married off because their families cannot afford to feed them, the prolonged drought across the horn of Africa has resulted in this kind of behavior. Married off young where is the future of these girls? The ongoing climate crisis especially in Africa has seen women’s vulnerabilities exacerbated and they continue to experience the ravaging effects far worse than the male counterparts. Being solely relied on to provide food and water for their families, they are consistently risking their lives to ensure that they are providing for the family.

A clear indication that the unique circumstances women experience daily require special attention and proper guided policies. These policies should not only protect their physical well-being but also promote wellness, growth attributed to skill and impetus. This will ensure they generate and curate ideas that could  promote climate smart innovations to combat the ongoing climate crisis, provide solutions that will see the family unit benefit from a two-income household without the compromise of both parents working all the time.

we can see women in energy through organizations like Global Wind Energy Council In order to advance the role of women as agents of change in society and promote best practices within the wind industry, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) partnered with the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET) to launch the Women in Wind Global Leadership Program in 2019. The program is designed to accelerate the careers of women in the wind industry, support their pathway to leadership positions and foster a global network of mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and empowerment. Their active participation in leadership of the above, mentioned organization is proof of their capacity in bringing lasting change in various sectors.

^{Figure 2: Courtesy of interactioninstitute.org/ madewithangus.com.}

The solutions for equity are rooted in equality. When everyone has access to  resources, regardless of their gender, education, socio-economic backgrounds among other factors then we can foster growth and sustainable change.

To achieve the change we want, we also need to embrace new technologies in a report released World Economic Forum (WEF) “by 2050, 75% of jobs will be related to STEM areas. Yet today, women hold just 22% of positions in artificial intelligence, to name just one.” This means women have an untapped opportunity to contribute to the sustainable change through embracing technologies.

The gender and climate justice conversation are still rooted in all the above. This is the time to capitalize on focused efforts and existing enabling environment towards achieving sustainable change for the society.

International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to highlight all these issues and hold to account institutions we are involved in, in ensuring they enhance both equality and equity for the betterment of the society and ensuring we build a sustainable future that has a multisectoral approach.

This piece was written by the Communication Assistant Officer -Pan African Climate Justice Alliance