Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries calls for an inclusive and meaningful participation of women in the environment sector
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Ms Maggie Sotyu has called on the environment sector to be inclusive and promote meaningful participation of women. Deputy Minister Sotyu was addressing more than 300 women attending the Women in Environment Conference in Boksburg, today 28 August 2019.
“This means we need to start in earnest to mainstream gender in education, and at the same time, integrate environmental issues into school curricula, where young girls are encouraged and be motivated to become scientists, in meteorology, biology, and botanic studies,” said Deputy Minister Sotyu.
The annual two-day conference brought women from across the country to deliberate on the role women can play in the environment in South Africa, with a focus on climate change. The conference is convened under the theme: Women Leading 4 Climate Action.
“As women are generally the providers of food, water, and fuel for families, changes in the climate and environment impact mothers, grandmothers, sisters and daughters directly. This means, there is a direct relationship between gender equality, women’s empowerment and climate change,” she said.
This means, there is a direct relationship between gender equality, women’s empowerment and climate change.
While the Deputy Minister acknowledged that climate change and natural disasters affect everyone, she emphasised that women are the most vulnerable. “It is a fact that most of all the vulnerable communities, women and girl-children are the most affected groups from the devastating impacts of climate change, especially those living mostly in rural areas bear the hardest and heaviest burden of these hazards,” she added.
South Africa’s response to the challenge of climate change has taken a stronger and decisive commitment to promote the inclusion of women voices in every aspect of sustainable development. This commitment is reflected in the country’s National Strategy towards Gender Mainstreaming in the Environment Sector. The purpose of the strategy is to provide a framework for gender mainstreaming in the environment sector by ensuring that initiatives in the sector are inclusive and promote meaningful participation of women.
This commitment is reflected in our country’s National Strategy towards Gender Mainstreaming in the Environment Sector. The purpose of this strategy is to provide a framework for gender mainstreaming in the environment sector by ensuring that initiatives in the sector are inclusive and promote meaningful participation of women.
Through the National Adaptation Fund, the Department supports a number of projects across three provinces, namely KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Northern Cape. Most beneficiaries from these projects are women and youth. These address raising climate resilient livestock; producing climate resilient rooibos tea; introducing climate smart vegetable production as well as investing in water security, saving schemes and in climate proof infrastructure.
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