Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations, NY

The Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations hosted, in collaboration with Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), a Side Event on Gender Perspectives in the Use of Technology against the Impact of Climate Change and for Access to Clean Water and Energy during the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Since women constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent for their livelihood on natural resources that are threatened by climate change, they are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than men. Furthermore, they face social, economic and political barriers that limit their capacity to cope with the effects of climate change. However, women are not only vulnerable to climate change but they often have a strong body of knowledge and expertise that can be used in climate change mitigation, disaster reduction and adaptation strategies. Furthermore, women’s responsibilities in households and communities, as stewards of natural and household resources, position them well to contribute to livelihood strategies adapted to changing environmental realities.

The purpose of this Side Event was to address the challenges faced by women in accessing clean technologies and share concrete initiatives to increase women’s access to technology as means of mitigating the impact of climate change when utilizing clean water and renewable energy sources. In doing so, women will become agents of change and decision-makers.

Set as an interactive dialogue, led by the Deputy Minister of Family and Social Policies of Turkey, the following issues were covered during the side event:

• Durban 2011 and the importance of clean technology when mitigating the effects of climate change;
• The gender perspective on the role of technology in mitigating the effects of climate change;
• The role of women in pioneering the use of clean technologies when accessing clean water and energy;
• From local to global: concrete initiatives of using clean technologies by women;

For more information, please contact Ms. Mónica Adame, Program Officer, at monica.adame@pgation.org