Ministry of Environment, UNDP launch gender equality analysis report

Environment
(Photo: Jordan News)
AMMAN — The Ministry of Environment, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), on Wednesday launched the analysis report “Gender Equality and Climate Change in Jordan”, a first of its kind, at the ministry’s headquarters, marking the International Women’s Day.اضافة اعلان

The ceremony, attended by Environment Minister Muawiya Al-Radaydah, UNDP Resident Representative Randa Abu Al-Hassan and Ministry Secretary-General Mohammad Al-Khashashna, discussed the report’s output, the executive technical programs aimed at identifying the gender gap in climate action, and the benefits that could be derived by bridging this gap in order to address climate issues and mitigate their negative effects.

The report sets out a general roadmap to gradually pave the way for gender-equitable climate action.

Radaydah said that gender equality is important for achieving sustainable development and contributing to the country’s progress, noting that the climate change policy in Jordan has addressed gender inequalities and adopted approaches that promote gender equality “and challenge power dynamics at the level of families, society and the sector, which leads to achieving more sustainable development goals”.

The report, a copy of which was made available to Jordan News, points out that “the effects of climate change on Jordan are significant, as reduced rainfall and high temperatures threaten the livelihoods and health of fragile communities, especially women and girls, especially in those communities that depend on agriculture, food production and livestock breeding, as they are highly vulnerable to climate displacement”.

It also said that Jordanian women still face many legislative, political, economic and social obstacles to accessing resources and opportunities and exercising their rights on equal basis with men, adding that Jordanian women’s participation in the labor market and politics is still low even though more women hold university degrees than to men.

The report indicated that women own less land and face more difficulties accessing natural and financial resources, information, services and new technologies.

According to the report, the unfair distribution of resources, decision-making powers, and services affects women’s roles, responsibilities, and ability to deal with the effects of climate change, although women bear the bulk of domestic work and therefore have to face multiple challenges arising from scarce and expensive resources.

The roadmap identifies some important recommendations that work to promote gender equality in light of climate change, to adapt to it, and to mitigate its damage. Among the recommendations: creating a common framework to address gender inequality, developing a strong local discourse on gender equality and climate change, developing strong synergies between actors in the field of gender equality, increasing the representation of women in institutions and leadership positions, and enhancing societies’ and decision-makers’ awareness about the impact of climate change.

Radaydah told Jordan News that the ministry will exert all efforts to promote gender equality in order to achieve the desired sustainable development goals, but that “also requires all institutions and individuals to do their duty to enhance women’s participation and thus promote gender equality, as this can only be achieved through an integrated cycle in which all concerned parties work together on a long-term plan.”


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