NEW YORK – 17 March 2022 – The United Arab Emirates expressed its firm belief in the vital role women play in confronting the climate crisis and its commitment to development efforts that take into consideration the empowerment of women and the making of national policy that confronts climate change. The UAE’s statement was delivered during the 66th session of the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), on “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes.”
H.E. Mariam Almheiri, the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment who headed the country’s delegation to the meeting, highlighted the important role of leadership and the efforts of relevant national institutions in advancing the status of women at all levels.
H.E. Almheiri said, “We have witnessed how the meaningful political participation of women has enabled the state to better respond to the needs of its citizens and residents.”
H.E. Almheiri highlighted important areas that require special attention from the international community to help ensure the promotion of gender equality in the face of the climate crisis.
She added, “We firmly believe that women can and do play a critical role in response to the climate crisis. We also need to harness the potential of new and emerging technologies to ensure that we can adapt to climate change and mitigate it.”
The 66th annual session of CSW takes place from 14 March to 25 March. CSW, which is part of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the principal global governmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was established in 1946.