Karachi, 7 February 2022 (TDI): United Nations Development Programme Pakistan in partnership with the National Commission on the Status of Women hosted ‘Women and Climate Change: Impact, Challenges, and Solutions’ consultations in Karachi, Sindh today.
Led by Chairperson @ncswpk @NilofarBkhtiar & @PlanComPakistan‘s @shabnumsarfraz, speakers at the consultation explored how to reduce vulnerabilities of climate stressed women in #Sindh, through evaluating policies & programmes to champion #ClimateAction & #LeaveNoOneBehind (3/3) pic.twitter.com/UCwtmEyU75
— UNDP Pakistan (@UNDP_Pakistan) February 7, 2022
The event was held at Avari Towers in Karachi.
Climate Change
The prime purpose of the event was to look into the impacts that climate change has on women particularly.
This event served as a platform to engage experienced climate change and gender inequality experts. In addition to that the policymakers, government representatives, people from private sectors, civil society, academia, and media were also there. All the earlier mentioned people from various sectors sat to discuss the impacts of climate change.
Furthermore, the existing mitigation and monitoring measures that are being taken to combat climate change were reviewed. Possible further solutions were also sought through collective wisdom.
It is relevant to mention here that similar events by the same entities were held in Gilgit Baltistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtun Khwa earlier.
Women and Climate Change
The Chairperson National Commission on the Status of Women Nilofar Bakhtiar shared her valuable remarks on the subject of the event.
She stated that the women of Pakistan are an unutilized vital resource in the country. Federal and provincial governments should work on this valuable resource.
Women are an untapped resource to counter climate change, quick to come up with solutions and adapt to new situations, they must have the training, knowledge, technology and fundamental resources and should be involved in political decision making to combat the challenge. pic.twitter.com/NTpBr51IeI
— Nilofar Bakhtiar (@NilofarBkhtiar) February 7, 2022
Talking about the abilities and qualities of females, the chairperson highlighted that gender shift is offering solutions to climate change. Further adding she said that women are adaptable and flexible in ever-evolving situations.
Nilofar Bakhtiar underscored that women must be given proper training, knowledge, awareness of the technology, and, basic resources. This way women can assist in addressing climate change-related problems. Not only that but women must also be considered in political decision-making, she added.
Women, climate change and Sindh
Sindh, one of the provinces of Pakistan where today’s consultation event was held, is one of the adversely affected regions by climate change.
Some of the major challenges in Sindh are the harsh heat waves, floods, and rising sea levels. Moreover, the encroachments of the agricultural land and disturbances in local fisheries due to the rise in sea level add to previously mentioned challenges.
Consequently, women have been affected, since whenever there is a calamity the major displacements are of women and children. Additionally, the livelihood opportunities are also taken away, so the loss is huge, given livelihood opportunities are already limited.
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