Africa-Press – Mauritius. A gender training workshop on the theme ‘Gender Analysis and Gender Action Planning for Climate Change Mitigation’ opened ,this morning, in presence of the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr.
Kavydass Ramano, at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Center, in Belle-Village. The training aims to sensitise participants on the links between climate change and gender equality with the ultimate goal of finding mitigation and adaptation strategies by promoting gender equality.
In his address, the Minister underlined that it is important to recognise and promote the contribution of women as decision-makers, stakeholders, educators and experts in all fields, and at all levels, as they can lead to long-term solutions.
He stressed that gender perspectives are considered as a high priority in all climate change programmes, while stressing that in the process of reviewing Nationally Determined Contributions and formulation of action plans, the participation of women’s organisations will be included.
The Climate Change Bill, added the Minister, was approved on October 16, 2020 for its presentation in the National Assembly and will take into account gender equality.
According to Minister Ramano , climate change continues to have adverse impacts on us, and affects women and men differently. There are different levels of vulnerability as well as access to resources, linked to different factors that influence how the disaster affects people, he said.
Compared to men, women face disadvantages such as limited access to decision-making and economic activities that exacerbate climate change changes, he added.
The Minister further stated that women represent more than half of the world’s population and contribute greatly to the well-being and sustainable development of their communities, countries and to the maintenance of the ecosystem, biodiversity and natural resources.
He expressed confidence that women have more equitable and sustainable solutions to climate change for the wellbeing of everyone. Thus, he stressed the need for all stakeholders, including women, to join their efforts in order to strengthen the country’s resilience and enable its transformation towards a low carbon economy.
According to him, the implementation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions which will lead to the formulation of a first National Strategy and Action Plan on climate change mitigation and will include the integration of gender in the decision-making process through a Gender Action Plan.
Minister Ramano also highlighted his Ministry’s commitment to the inclusion of women and the targeting and participation of women as agents of change in mitigation and adaptation programmes.
He also spoke of the recent ranking of Mauritius by the World Risk Report in the 53rd position due to the improvement in adaptation capacities during the last few years, which testifies Government’s commitment to strengthen our resilience to climate change.
As for the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative Mauritius and Seychelles , Ms Christine Umutoni, she spoke of the need to elevate and empower women as a nexus to accelerate actions to address climate change .
Gender equality and mainstreaming, she said, are at the core of the UN’s agenda. She dwelt on how women are more vulnerable than men in regards to climate change effects, such as loss of homes and displacements, that expose them to various forms of danger. She highlighted that women can be part of the solutions, by being included in leadership and governance to participate in decision-making.
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