Pictures’ Source: TheDialog
The German Embassy in New Delhi hosted a pivotal event titled “Women Action in Climate Change” on August 8, focusing on the essential role of women in tackling the global climate crisis.
The event, moderated by German Ambassador Dr. Philipp Ackermann, featured influential speakers from various sectors who underscored the need for increased female participation in climate solutions.
Germany’s Commitment to Gender Equality and Climate Action
Dr. Philipp Ackermann opened the event by outlining Germany’s role as a gender champion within the European Union. He highlighted the strong partnership between Germany and India in promoting green and sustainable development.
Dr. Ackermann stressed the urgency of involving more women in climate decision-making processes, noting their disproportionate vulnerability to climate change while remaining underrepresented in solution-finding roles. “In the energy sector, only 22% of jobs are held by women,” he remarked, calling for greater female involvement in climate action.
The Gendered Impact of Climate-Related Disasters
Mrs. Ambika Vishwanath, Director of the Kubernein Initiative, discussed the specific risks women face during climate-related disasters. She cited alarming statistics, such as women being 60-70% more likely to die in events like landslides and cyclones.
Beyond immediate fatalities, Mrs. Vishwanath highlighted the broader economic consequences of gender inequality in climate resilience. She called for targeted funding in areas like water management and heat stress and advocated for integrating gender considerations into all levels of climate action planning.
Corporate Perspective: The Role of Women in the Energy Transition
Mr. Guilherme Mendonça, CEO of Siemens Energy India, provided a corporate perspective on the challenge of balancing economic growth with decarbonization. He emphasized that achieving climate goals is impossible without full female participation and highlighted the role of diversity in driving innovation, crucial for developing new technologies to combat climate change.
A Call to Action for Inclusive Climate Policies
The event at the German Embassy concluded with a unified call to action: to develop more inclusive, gender-sensitive climate policies that recognize and leverage the indispensable role of women in climate action.
TheDialog.net will continue to follow developments in this critical area as the conversation evolves, both in India and globally.
