Jakarta – Women in Indonesia play a vital role in tackling climate change, yet they remain disproportionately affected by its impacts. This was one of the key messages from the United Nations (UN) at a press conference today celebrating International Women’s Day.
The UN highlighted various initiatives where women are at the forefront of climate solutions. In a UNDP-led project, for instance, 22 off-grid solar power plants were installed in remote rural areas, with half of the local operators being women. Similarly, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) supports women-driven land-use businesses, such as a coconut farm in Yogyakarta, where women are leading efforts to transition to drought-resistant crops, increasing yields while combating soil erosion.
“Women are not just victims of climate change; they are leaders in sustainable solutions,” said the UN Indonesia Resident Coordinator Gita Sabharwal.
Beyond climate action, the UN underscored Indonesia’s progress toward gender equality, though challenges remain. While the country outperforms many others in Asia and the Pacific on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), acceleration is needed in areas like economic empowerment and digital inclusion.
Sabharwal also highlighted how the UN works with the Indonesian government to enhance AI regulation, expand women’s access to finance, and strengthen protection against gender-based violence. Notably, Indonesia is a leader in peacekeeping efforts.
“Indonesia, is the fifth largest contributor to UN peacekeeping globally. It is leading in the representation of women in peacekeeping with nearly 600 women as part of its peacekeeping contingent. This is expected to further increase in coming years,” she said.
As the world marks International Women’s Day, the UN emphasised that achieving true gender equality requires stronger partnerships between governments, civil society, and the private sector. (nsh)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2024)
