By Blessing V. Bonga
IN marking International Women’s day , Harare-based climate organisation, Emerald Climate Hub, in collaboration with SHE Changes Climate will this Friday host a roundtable discussion in Harare that is meant to discuss the role of women in the fight against the effects of climate change.
The day which falls on the 8th of March this year will run under the theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” Women have for years played second fiddle to their male counterparts in matters of nation building and development in general and yet they usually bear the most brunt when it comes to effects that result from phenomena such as climate change, poverty, poor sanitation and lack of access to maternal health.
Speaking to this publication on Wednesday, SHE Changes Climate ambassador and Emerald Climate Hub team leader, Tafadzwa Kurotwi said the event aims to bring together individuals and organisations who are committed to advancing gender equality and empowering women. This therefore means men will also be in attendance at the event. The round table will provide a platform for insightful discussion, knowledge sharing, and collaboration on key issues related to how climate finance can be structured and delivered to empower women and catalyze their leadership in climate solutions.
“Financial barriers are a major obstacle for women in climate action as women often lack access to funding and resources to implement climate-friendly solutions or adapt to the effects of climate change.
“The event will see men and women sharing experiences and best practices from people around the world which will be valuable for collaborations, while also discussing successful funding models or initiatives from other countries that could be adapted to the Zimbabwean context,” she said.
The roundtable discussion will also highlight successful initiatives and best practices for gender-responsive climate action, while identifying actionable recommendations for governments, international organisations, financial institutions, and civil society to advance women’s roles in combating climate change.
SHE Changes Climate specifically focuses on empowering women to address climate change and by combining with Emerald Climate Hub, it goes to show their shared commitment towards fighting climate change.
Emerald Climate Hub, is a youth led non-profit organisation that amplifies African voices, training in maneuvering global policy platforms as well as finding sustainable solutions to climate change through innovation and technology and facilitating the inclusion of young people and women.
The organisation also seeks to create safe spaces that create opportunities for young people, in particular women and girls. By so doing, Emerald Climate Hub desires to create innovative solutions in African communities, make informed decisions concerning climate change global commitments as well as promoting climate justice, gender equality and diversity inclusion.