[Wigsat-l] WOMEN MUST HAVE GREATER SAY IN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE – SECRETARY-GENERAL

[Sophia Huyer]

WOMEN MUST HAVE GREATER SAY IN TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE – SECRETARY- 
GENERAL
New York, Sep 24 2009  8:05PM
Women are especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change,  
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, urging that they be given a  
greater say in addressing the challenge.

In a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4101">message to an  
event in New York on peace and security through women’s leadership, Mr  
Ban noted that with their skills, perspectives and experiences, women  
are already responding to the impacts of climate change.

“It is time to involve them as equal partners. When we do, our world  
as a whole will benefit,” he said in the message, delivered by Rachel  
Mayanja, Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and  
Advancement of Women.

Women are especially vulnerable to the many impacts of climate change,  
Mr. Ban pointed out, since so many depend directly on the environment  
for their livelihoods and sustenance.

They are also custodians of community knowledge, with keen insights  
into how to sustainably manage natural resources, he said.

However, while the UN has succeeded in amplifying the voices of women  
on a range of issues, including conflict prevention, conflict  
resolution and peacebuilding, he said the special perspective of women  
is often overlooked in global discussions on climate change.

“We must do more to give greater say to women in addressing the  
climate challenge,” stated the Secretary-General.

“I urge Member States to foster an environment where women are key  
decision-makers on climate change, and play an equally central role in  
carrying out these decisions.”

Meanwhile, a new <"http://www.unep.org/compendium2009/">report by the  
UN Environment Programme (<"http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=596&ArticleID=6326&l=en&t=long 
">UNEP) has found that the impacts of climate change are approaching  
faster and sooner, noting losses of mountain glaciers and Arctic ice,  
as well as the acidification of oceans.

UNEP’s Executive Director Achim Steiner said the report underlines the  
urgency for countries to ‘seal the deal’ on an ambitious new agreement  
to curb greenhouse gas emissions at the UN climate change conference  
to be held in December in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The <I>Climate Change Science Compendium 2009</I> also found that it  
may still be possible to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of  
climate change. However, this will only happen if there is immediate,  
cohesive and decisive action to both cut emissions and assist  
vulnerable countries adapt, noted a news release issued by UNEP.
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