In Libreville, Gabon, the Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement (JVE) NGO organized a women's environmental roundtable to enhance female leadership and participation in climate decision-making. The event, themed "Women at the Heart of Environmental Governance," aimed to promote greater consideration of women's contributions to natural resource management and environmental decision-making processes. This initiative addresses the underrepresentation of women in environmental decision-making spaces.
The roundtable, held at the Arambo building in Libreville, brought together women from local communities, institutional leaders, scientific experts, representatives from organizations and civil society, healthcare professionals, and media personnel. The discussions focused on the need for women to participate in policy development and occupy more significant positions in governance instances. According to JVE President Vanessa Sthella Itsopo Ngolet, women should not only participate in environmental actions but also contribute to decisions, influence policies, and take their place in governance instances.
The primary objective of the roundtable was to stimulate engagement and innovation among young women, who are expected to play a more significant role in climate governance. The event's outcome is expected to be a roadmap and strategic recommendations for more inclusive environmental governance. This high-level meeting is part of the "Tambour battant vers la COP31" caravan, an initiative to mobilize and raise awareness about climate and environmental issues.
The current context in Gabon is marked by a low representation of women in environmental decision-making spaces. The JVE NGO aims to address this issue by promoting women's empowerment and participation in climate governance. The roundtable provided a platform for women to share their experiences, expertise, and perspectives on environmental issues.
The event's discussions highlighted the importance of women's participation in environmental decision-making processes. The participants emphasized the need for women to be involved in policy development and implementation, as well as in the management of natural resources. The roundtable also aimed to identify strategies to support women's empowerment in environmental governance.
According to the JVE President, the roundtable's goal is to ensure that women are not only involved in environmental actions but also play a key role in decision-making processes. The event's outcome is expected to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable environmental governance in Gabon.
The "Tambour battant vers la COP31" caravan is an initiative to raise awareness about climate and environmental issues in the lead-up to the COP31 conference. The caravan aims to mobilize stakeholders, including women, to take action on climate change and environmental protection. The roundtable hosted by JVE is part of this effort to promote women's empowerment and participation in climate governance.
Key points
- Empowering women to participate in climate governance is crucial for effective environmental management.
- The roundtable aimed to promote women's leadership and participation in environmental decision-making processes.
- The event's outcome is expected to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable environmental governance in Gabon.
