Connecting gender equality and biodiversity – for sustainable societies

When being empowered to take the space and opportunity, women and girls in poor and marginalised communities are agents of change for sustainable development. But due to gender inequality, these women and girls are seldom involved in decision making processes and their knowledge is not captured. At the same time, they are disproportionally affected by biodiversity loss and climate change due to increased vulnerability and insecurity.

Ensuring that women’s, men’s and youth’s perspectives are considered and integrated into policies and initiatives is necessary for effective and equitable biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

By connecting ongoing policy processes with grassroot work by women’s and youth organisations – government and organisations can ensure that the work on gender equality and biodiversity are mutually reinforcing each other. During this virtual Development Talks we will explore the need to have both perspectives in mind for poverty alleviation and inclusive sustainable development.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and as we anticipate the adoption of a new Global Biodiversity Framework, we will gather development actors from global to local level to share and learn about the emerging evidence and how we can achieve better results by promoting both gender equality and biodiversity together.

Welcome to join!

The event will be broadcasted on this livestream.

Programme

Tuesday, 4th May. 9:00-10:45 CEST

Moderator: Anna Axelsson, Senior Advisor Environment and Climate Change, Sida

Opening remarks
Marie Ottosson, Deputy Director General, Sida
Janine Alm Ericsson, State Secretary, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Key note addresses: Interlinkages between gender equality and biodiversity loss and the guidance of international frameworks
Andrew Norton, Director, International Institute for Environment and Development, IIED
Violet Shivutse, elected Chair of Huairou Commission’s Governing Council & Africa Regional Representative

Panel discussion: Emerging evidence, promising approaches and opportunities for collaboration
Pragyaa Rai, Indigenous Women's Programme Coordinator, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, AIPP
Martin Hultman, Associate professor in Science-, technology and environmental studies, Chalmers University
Lisa Arlbrandt, Gender Expert, WWF Sweden
Pernilla Malmer, Senior Advisor, Swedbio, and member of Swedish CBD delegation

Short film sequence: Youth engagement
Amelia Arreguin, Regional Coordinator Latin America and the Caribbean, Global Youth Biodiversity Network
Sohanur Rahman, leader of Fridays For Future Bangladesh

Closing remarks
Jan Wärnbäck, Senior Policy Specialist, environment and climate change, Sida

The webinar will include interactive elements and a short break. It's free of charge and registration is open until we go live.

This Development Talks contributes towards the global campaign Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights for an equal future and the Global action coalitions that were developed in response to the call of the UN Secretary General’sDecade of Action.