Speakers at a high-level regional moot here on Monday said gender empowerment is vital to successfully transitioning to a green economy.
They said without ensuring that women have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from the green economy, we cannot achieve more sustainable, inclusive and effective environmental and economic outcomes.
The two-day event ‘Regional Parliamentarians Conference on Gender Empowerment for a Green Economy’ was organized here by the Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Ministry and Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), says an official statement issued here on Monday.
The event was organized in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), UN Fund for Population Activities, Pathfinder, The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and other international non-governmental organisations.
Parliamentarians from over 15 Asian countries, senior representatives of the diplomatic community, high-level political figures, government officials, international NGOs, members of international donor organisation’s and academia attended the event.
Speaking as a chief guest, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that gender empowerment for achieving green economy goals is both timely and essential for our collective and sustainable future.
‘As parliamentarians, we must recognize that gender equality and environmental sustainability are deeply intertwined goals; the success of one depends on the other,’ he stressed.
Highlighting the contribution of the Parliament of Pakistan, the National Assembly Speaker said the parliament has played an unprecedented role in advancing gender equality, reproductive health, and sustainable development for improving the overall quality of the life of women, particularly those living in marginalized areas of the country.
Through progressive laws and dedicated parliamentary forums, such as the Women Parliamentary Caucus and the Parliamentary Taskforce on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we are integrating the agenda of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in 1994 in Cairo into our national policies, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq highlighted.
Highlighting Pakistan’s activism for women empowerment in all spheres of the life, he informed the participants, ‘The country has championed laws addressing gender-based violence, ensuring equal safe workplaces, and enhancing women’s socio-economic and political participation.’
Despite women producing up to 80 percent of food in developing countries, they lack equal access to resources like land and technology, he added.
In her welcome remarks, the Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam said that the green economy is not merely an environmental plan; it is a transformative approach aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth while mitigating environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
However, this transformation remains incomplete without addressing societal inequalities, particularly gender inequality, she cautioned. She highlighted that women, constituting half of the world’s population, are crucial to achieving green economy goals.
However, ‘It is imperative to recognize women’s dual roles as both victims of environmental degradation and potent agents of change driving sustainable development’, she told the participants.
Romina Khurshid emphasized that gender equality is not just about a human rights; it is a cornerstone of sustainable development. ‘When women have access to education, resources, and decision-making power, the benefits ripple out across society. Research consistently shows that when women are empowered, communities are more resilient, economies are more robust, and the environment is better protected,’ she remarked.
She said in Pakistan, we the parliamentarians are striving to ensure that our policies reflect this understanding. She said we are also committed to mainstreaming gender considerations across all climate-related policies and actions, recognizing that women’s leadership and participation are critical to achieving our climate goals.
Minister of State of Japan on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Toshiko Abe San said that Japan has increasingly recognized the importance of women’s empowerment in driving the green economy.
‘While the country has faced challenges in gender equality, significant steps are being taken to integrate gender perspectives into environmental and economic policies,’ the Japanese state minister informed the meeting participants.
She also said that Japan’s ‘Womenomics’ initiative aimed to increase female participation in the workforce as a key strategy for economic growth. While the initiative primarily focused on economic empowerment, its principles are being extended to the green economy, encouraging women’s involvement in sectors like renewable energy and sustainable technology.
Deputy Representative of UNFPA Pakistan Ms Latika Maskey Pradhan said that despite progress on the ICPD action programme , gender inequality persists as women and girls face discrimination violence and limited opportunities in various aspects of life especially education, employment and decision-making.
She urged parliamentarians from Asia region to champion the cause of women’s empowerment in the context of the green economy. ‘Your political will is essential in creating an enabling environment where women can thrive and contribute their full potential to sustainable development,’ she stressed while addressing the parliamentarians from various Asian countries.
The parliamentarians from various Asian countries included Japan, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Cambodia, Jordan, Mongolia, Maldives and Egypt.
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Pathfinder International Dr Tabinda Sarosh said that the deliberations during the course of the two-day regional conference would effectively help push for mainstreaming gender into the green economy agenda through policymaking and implementation of relevant laws for women’s enhanced socio-economic empowerment in the Asian countries.
She emphasized that management of growing population issues, sustainable development and resilience work hand in hand. And, there is a need for realization that women, girls and vulnerable communities are on the frontline of the battles we fight with poverty, lack of education and health services and the impact of the climate crisis.
‘Thus, it is imperative that we as influencers and decision makers emphasize the need for integration of gender equality and women empowerment throughout environment and climate change policies,’ she told the parliamentarians from different Asian countries.
She urged them to use their political will and wit to push ahead with implementation of policies and relevant laws for gender equality and women empowerment by providing them required education, health, employment and skill development opportunities.