(KPL) The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Laos in cooperation with the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment, launched the State of the World Population Report 2009 “Facing a Changing World: Women, Population and Climate”.
The meeting, taking place at the Ministry of Planning and Investment on November 19, was to mark the dissemination day of the World Population Report (November 18).
Dr. Kikeo Chanthabouly, chief of the Cabinet, Ministry of Planning and Investment, and Ms. Mieko Yabuta, UNFPA Representative co-chaired the meeting.
“The Lao government recognises the importance of addressing climate change and considers this task as an effort to eradicate poverty from the country by 2020,” said Dr. Kikeo. “The climate change presents challenges for the developing countries including Laos in achieving the Millennium Development Goals such as poverty eradication, environmental protection and community development.”
“Climate change is more than an issue of energy efficiency or industrial carbon emissions of factories and it is also a problem of human migration, poverty and gender equity,” said UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid.
Women are among the most vulnerable to climate change, partly because in many countries they make up the larger share of the agricultural workforce and partly because they tend not to have an access to as many income earning opportunities as men. They bear the very large burden of climate change but have so far been largely overlooked in the discussions on climate change.
However, as highlighted in the State of the World Population Report, by engaging women we can tap 3.4 billion agents for change. Women weave the fabric of society and need to be seen as a resource. The report argues that a fight against climate change is more likely to be successful if policies, programmes and treaties take into account the needs, rights and potential of women.
KPL Lao News Agency
20-11-2009
