Gender equality, women empowerment vital to achieving green economy agenda

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a high-level regional moot said Monday that gender empowerment is vital to successfully transitioning to a green economy. 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.Australian High Commissioner Calls-On Secretary WPC

The two-day event ‘Regional Parliamentarians Conference on Gender Empowerment for a Green Economy’ was organized here by the Climate Change & Environmental Coordination Ministry  and Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD)  in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority, 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, govt 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 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 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”, PM’s climate aide told the participants.

PM’s climate aide 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 further, “In Pakistan, we the parliamentarians are striving to ensure that our policies reflect this understanding. 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.