Creating equal opportunities for women helps build more equitable and inclusive societies, which, in turn, contributes to better adaptation and resilience to climate change, believes Zulfia Karimova, lead of CAREC’s gender team.
The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Programme held the Women’s Business Forum “Gender and Climate -2024” in Astana with the Asian Development Bank’s support. CABAR.asia analytical platform was one of the main partners of the event.
The CAREC partnership includes Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and six multilateral institutions. The CAREC Programme promotes regional cooperation to accelerate economic growth and reduce poverty.
In a CABAR.asia interview, one of the event organisers, Zulfia Karimova, Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist at ADB and lead of CAREC’s gender team, spoke about the Forum’s main goals and objectives, as well as the support programme for women working on climate change adaptation in CAREC member countries.
CABAR.asia: What key outcomes do you expect from the Forum, especially in the context of regional cooperation?
Zulfia Karimova: First, we expect to strengthen regional cooperation between women entrepreneurs and organisations, as well as to promote successful women entrepreneurs internationally. The Forum should become a catalyst for creating new business partnerships and alliances that contribute to the sustainable development of the region.
We hope that the Forum will help identify and overcome barriers women face in business by sharing experiences and implementing best practices. The Forum will also provide a unique platform to discuss climate change and gender equality, which are crucial for sustainable development. We are committed to integrating gender into climate policy to make our solutions more effective and equitable for all.
We announced the development of the “CAREC Gender Climate Network”. This network will be organised under the existing CAREC Women’s Empowerment Online Platform (WEOP), a comprehensive and user-friendly digital space that aims to empower women across the region by providing capacity development resources, networking opportunities, and knowledge sharing.
Our discussions in this Forum have underscored the power of regional cooperation and ongoing collaboration in driving meaningful change. This innovative platform will feature an expert series and mentorship programmes, showcasing inspiring leaders from across the CAREC region who are committed to advancing gender and climate initiatives.
While still in development, the CAREC Gender Climate Network has the potential to become a vital resource for promoting gender-transformative climate action across our region. Together with the CAREC WEOP, these efforts reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future for all.
This year, 15 individuals and organisations won the CAREC Gender Climate Award 2024. Please tell us about its importance to women in the fight against climate change.
Zulfia Karimova: This is the second year for the Gender Climate Awards. Last year, it was called the ‘CAREC Award for Advancing Gender Equality’ and celebrated 11 winners from 10 CAREC member countries.
The CAREC Gender Climate Award 2024 recognised women’s contribution to sustainable development and the fight against climate change in Central Asia. The initiative emphasises the importance of gender equality in climate policy and stimulates innovation. The Award raises awareness of the importance of gender equality by involving women in decision-making and developing sustainable solutions.
The awardees are selected based on their project’s original idea and effectiveness, their impact on local communities, and the women’s engagement. Special attention is given to innovations in climate change adaptation, renewable energy, and sustainable resource management. This year, they were selected from more than 200 applicants.
The Award promotes awareness of the gender aspects of climate policy and encourages women to participate in environmental issues actively. The awardees become inspirational examples for other women, encouraging new generations to be innovative and active in sustainable development.
The recognition grants them access to various CAREC-organised events related to gender and climate action and provides them with networking opportunities and peer-to-peer exchange of best practices. They will also benefit from CAREC leadership coaching and mentorship programmes.
How do you see the Forum’s role in further promoting women’s leadership in business and climate change resilience?
Zulfia Karimova: The Forum can play an important role in supporting women’s leadership by creating platforms for sharing best practices and developing strategies to promote women in business. The Forum can facilitate networking among women leaders and provide them access to educational resources and mentorship programmes.
One of the key elements is the development of support networks that bring together women working on climate initiatives and provide them with opportunities to collaborate on projects.
Why do you think it is important to connect gender and climate change in the context of regional development?
Zulfia Karimova: The connection between gender and climate change in regional development is important for several reasons. First, women, especially those living in rural areas, often depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. They are the first to suffer the impact of climate change, such as droughts, floods, and changes in weather patterns. Their participation in climate policy development will enable the specific needs and concerns of local communities to be considered, leading to more sustainable and effective solutions.
Second, women have significant potential to advance sustainable development through their leadership skills and innovation in various economic sectors. Numerous examples of successful projects demonstrate that women’s active participation can help reduce carbon emissions, improve water management, and enhance food security.
A third important point is that gender equality and climate change resilience are closely connected: creating equal opportunities for women helps build more equitable and inclusive societies, which, in turn, contributes to better adaptation and resilience to climate change.
The Forum seeks to promote these ideas by bringing together women leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts to share knowledge and best practices, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being and prosperity of the region.
How exactly does climate change affect women in Central Asia, and what role can they play in addressing the main challenges associated with it?
Zulfia Karimova: Climate change significantly impacts women in Central Asia, especially in rural and remote areas. They are often responsible for collecting water, fuel, and food while changing climatic conditions make these tasks more difficult. For example, droughts reduce crop yields, increasing the burden on women working in agriculture. Floods and other extreme weather events can destroy infrastructure and housing, affecting women particularly.
At the same time, women can contribute significantly to climate change adaptation and mitigation. With their unique knowledge and skills, they can develop sustainable agricultural practices, effectively manage water resources, and build resilient communities. Examples of successful women’s initiatives worldwide demonstrate that, with the proper support and training, women can make a significant impact in the fight against climate change.
The Forum actively encourages women’s participation in climate policy and sustainable development by creating a platform for experience sharing. We want women to be heard at all decision-making levels. We believe that their contributions will make a significant difference.
What advice would you give young women seeking leadership positions in regional development and climate change?
Zulfia Karimova: I would wish young women aspiring to leadership in regional development and climate change to believe in themselves and not be afraid of responsibility. They should seek opportunities to learn and grow, participate in networks and forums for support and resources. Collaboration and sharing experiences with other leaders and experts are important elements of success.