Istanbul gears up for key meeting on gender equality, climate action
A general view from Istanbul while the fog covers the sky in a fall morning in Beykoz, Cekmekoy, Sancaktepe, Sultanbeyli, Kagithane, Uskudar, Umraniye, Besiktas and Sariyer districts of Istanbul, Turkiye on October 16, 2024. (AA Photo)
Istanbul is set to host a two-day meeting focusing on the intersection of gender equality and climate action, ahead of the upcoming U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan this November.
The event, known as the Istanbul Development Dialogue (IDD), is organized by the U.N. Development Program (UNDP) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in partnership with the Turkish government.
Focus on gender equality as catalyst for climate action
The meeting will emphasize the need for increased investment in gender equality as a key driver for effective climate action. It will build on discussions from the first IDD meeting held in May, exploring how gender equality can contribute to innovation and inclusive solutions for the climate crisis.
Ivana Zivkovic, UNDP Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, highlighted the role of gender equality in advancing climate solutions, particularly through investments in STEM education.
Partnerships for just transition
OECD Deputy Secretary-General Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen emphasized the importance of promoting women in STEM careers to meet the demand for green jobs. He also called for gender-responsive policies to support the fair transition to low-carbon economies.
The IDD event will serve as a platform to discuss these issues, alongside Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to address climate change.
Türkiye’s role in climate action
Gulsun Erkul, Türkiye’s Acting Director General of Energy, Environment and Transboundary Waters, reiterated the importance of collective efforts in combating climate change.
She noted Türkiye’s active collaboration with the UNDP and OECD to foster inclusive climate action policies, especially as the country faces the growing impacts of climate change.
Details about Istanbul Development Dialogues
What: UNDP and OECD are hosting this year’s second policy dialogue in the Istanbul Development Dialogues (IDD) series, focusing on “Investing for Gender Equality and Inclusive Climate Action.”
Who?
- Ivana Živković, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC), UNDP
- Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD
- Ambassador Gulsun Erkul, Acting Director-General of Energy, Environment and Transboundary Waters, Representative of the Government of Türkiye
- Raquel Lagunas, Global Director for Gender Equality, UNDP
- Nigar Arpadai, U.N. Climate Change High Level Champion for COP 29
Key discussions
- How to integrate gender equality into climate policies and actions.
- Ensuring a just transition that includes investments in gender-responsive solutions.
- Addressing the gender gap in STEM sectors and creating green job opportunities.
- Supporting inclusive climate finance and reducing the unpaid care burden on women.
- Preparing for the upcoming COP29 with a focus on inclusive climate action.
