Feb. 1 conference to show link between gender concepts, climate change

AMMAN — An upcoming conference seeks to shed light on gender mainstreaming in issues related to climate change, highlighting local women's contributions in the field.

The "Climate Change from a Gender Perspective Conference", which will be held on February 1 followed by two days of workshops, will discuss how men and women adapt to the phenomenon and contribute to mitigating its effect.

Held by USAID-Takamol Gender Programme, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Arizona State University, the conference will showcase local, regional and international examples on gender integration.

The conference seeks to expand the concept of gender and to connect it to daily life issues, said Takamol — Gender Programme Chief of Party Nermeen Murad.

"The meeting will illustrate the interconnectedness between gender concepts and climate change, and clarify the connections between them," she said.  

Environmental policy and governance expert Ruba Al-Zu'bi said the majority of the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals launched by the UN are related to climate change in one way or another.

She said gender-based discrimination in utilising resources and the lack of equal opportunities for women to participate in decision making on climate change increases its negative effects.

"Women occupy only 4 per cent of leading positions in institutions working in the energy sector around the world," Al-Zu'bi said, calling for further qualitative engagement of women in the field. 

She underscored the role of women's resource management skills in reducing the effect of climate change, highlighting their capability to raise awareness on the causes and impacts of climate change in their families and communities.