Empowerment of women is an important ingredient in climate resistance: Chairman NDMA

He said these words while addressing a round table on ‘Gender and Climate Vulnerabilities:Future Direction for Policy Research and Action’.

A press release regarding the event said:-

Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, CEO, LEAD Pakistan, and Director Asia, Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN),gave the welcome addressand highlighted that women in Pakistan are increasingly getting affected from the impacts of Climate Change and there’s a dire need to integrate gender into Climate Change.

The panel discussion facilitated by Ali Tauqeer Sheikh informed that gender and equity are central to sustainable development.With Climate Change having a gender differentiated impact, where women are disproportionately affected, there is a dire need to address gender inequality, which has become a serious challenge for achieving sustainable and equitable climate compatible development.

It was also mentioned in the press release that:-

According to Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, ‘At the moment the world is grappling with two challenges. First is poverty, as half of world’s population is below the poverty line, whereas

the second is Climate Change. After COP21, if the world successfully limits global warming to 1.5 Degree Celsius, we’ll experience up to 3 Degree Celsius rise in temperature, which will further make our population vulnerable to the impacts of Climate Change.

The panel comprised distinguished experts from the government, embassies, and development sector,including Dr. Khawar Mumtaz, Member Board of Governors, LEAD Pakistan, and Former Chairperson, National Commission on Status of Women; Samar Minallah, Member Board of Governors, LEAD Pakistan, and Documentary Filmmaker & Anthropologist; HumaChughtai, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Human Rights; Leslie Tinney, First Secretary, Canadian High Commission; Dr. Farhat Sheikh, Gender Advisor, Canadian High Commission; SeherAfsheen, Programme Manager, OXFAM Novib; Kay Schwendinger, Head of Resident Coordinator’s Office, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO); and Dr. Virginie la Masson, Research Officer, Social Development/Climate and Environment, Overseas Development Institute, London.

The roundtable aimed to help participants to share and gain knowledge, and serve as a stepping stone in mainstreaming gender within Climate Change.