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鈥淯ntil the world shifts to a position of true gender equality, women will remain the most negatively affected at all levels鈥�unable to use their collective strength in helping to solve issues like climate change and world peace,鈥� Dr. Taylor said in her keynote address.听

The Vice-President was speaking at a high-level event on the margins of the 66^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women held in New York in March 2022. It was organized by the African Women Leaders鈥� Network (AWLN), in collaboration with the Group of Friends of AWLN New York, co-chaired by鈥疓ermany and South Africa, together with UN Women and the International 国产AV Institute (IPI).听

The hybrid side-event was held at the Nelson Mandela Hall in the African Union (AU) Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York.听听

Under the theme: Women鈥檚 leadership in mitigating the impact of climate change and building a peaceful and sustainable climate-resilient Africa, discussions focused on the nexus between climate change, women鈥檚 equality and empowerment. Gender equality and the livelihoods of women鈥檚听 families were inextricably linked to the environment and climate change.听

There has been some progress on the continent as more women are assuming key decision-making positions and leading strategic ministries such as defense and agriculture . However, many countries are yet to听 attain the minimum 30%听commitment听 ( for women鈥檚 representation as stated by Dr. Taylor.听

While it is critical to continue advocating for more representation, several speakers highlighted the need for women leaders to leverage their positions for the adoption of gender responsive policies.听 听

In attendance, leading the call for integrating gender equality to mitigate the impact of climate change in Africa, were Cabinet ministers from Angola, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and South Africa.

Permanent Representatives of Germany, South Africa,听and Nauru, as well as the AU Special Envoy on Women, 国产AV and Security, Ms. Bineta Diop, AWLN pioneers, civil society, and young leaders also attended the event.听

UN Women Executive Director Ms. Sima Bahous said there was need to integrate gender perspective into climate and other policies and programmes.

鈥淪ustainable development and peace are inseparable,鈥� said Ms. Bahous, adding that African women, had a vital role in bringing sustainable development, climate change, and gender equality to the global stage .听

While Africa has enough natural resources to feed the entire continent, the effects of climate change and environmental degradation are impacting food security. Women, especially those in rural area, are particularly adversely impacted by climate change because of their high dependence on the environment for their livelihoods.听 听

Women鈥檚 leadership

Women, like the late Prof. Wangari Maathai, and the growing number of young activists, have been leading climate change responses in Africa. However, the UN Women Executive Director said a lot of times women鈥檚 contributions were 鈥渦nder-supported, under-resourced, under-valued and under-recognized.鈥澨� 听

Ms. Antonette Ncube, a youth climate activist from Botswana, reiterated the need to rethink the balance between 鈥榗onsultation鈥� and 鈥榓ctivism鈥� to increase support for women鈥檚 efforts.听听

The kind and nature of support should be clearly stated, and leadership redefined from rural women鈥檚 perspective.听 These measures will help eliminate barriers to women鈥檚 access to services and resources to support food and crop production.听听

Climate change priority

While the global discourse on climate change emphasizes reducing emissions, Ms. Jane Dorothy Anika, a youth climate expert from Kenya, highlighted the need for Africa鈥檚 narrative to focus on mitigation and adaptation so as to reflect the realities of the situation on the continent.听听

Africa accounts for an estimated听 4% of global emissions, yet nine out of the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change globally are in sub-Saharan Africa, noted Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, the AU Commissioner for Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment .听听

So rather than 鈥渄emoralizing women for cooking with firewood鈥� the focus should shift to the effects of using firewood on their health, according to Ms. Chido Mpemba, an AU Youth Envoy.听 听

The global climate talks, COP 27, to be held in Egypt later this year, will provide a platform to engage national gender and climate change focal points and, once more, highlight the importance of听women鈥檚 involvement in innovating solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change.听 听

Youth involvement

Africa has a huge youth population who need be enabled to play a key role in protecting the environment in order to secure their future. Integrating climate governance and sustainable farming into school curricula would teach the younger children to adapt eco-friendly habits at an early age.听听

Cabinet ministers from Morocco and Nigeria highlighted the need to leverage technology as a means of reaching young people, many of whom are on social media.听 Mainstreaming current climate change activism efforts by young people -- active blogging and听 development of short documentaries -- is critical.听听

Policy

Political will at the highest-level should provide an opportunity to reinvigorate the dialogue on how to address climate change and promote women鈥檚 leadership.听听

In addition, an increasing number of countries have signed up to regional and international protocols and have developed national policies and programmes听to address climate change.

Several countries in Africa 鈥� currently 35,听 have appointed national gender and climate change focal points, with some 鈥撎� Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe, having passed specific laws on climate change.听听

Dealing with the complexity of climate change and its wide-ranging impact demands a response that will incorporate women鈥檚 unique and invaluable perceptions and inputs at all levels .听听

Climate Action is needed 鈥榥ow鈥� because the climate change crisis is endangering the realization of Africa鈥檚 Agenda 2063 and the attainment of the SDGs. There is need to prioritize gender equality.听听