A non-governmental organization, League of Queens International Empowerment, has started a project called Gender and Climate Change with the goal of giving women a voice and helping to reduce the negative consequences of climate change on women’s lives.
The project, which aims to mobilize young women to advocate for gender-inclusive climate solutions in the Niger Delta and to amplify their voices and leadership for climate actions, has trained 30 young women on the manifestations of climate change.
Speaking at a press conference in Akwa Ibom, Project Officer Idorenyin Bassey said that the organisation had also commenced planting of trees in primary schools in Akwa Ibom state, adding that the target “is to plant 2000 economic trees within the next 12 months.”
She called for partnership with the government, private sector, individuals and civil society organizations.
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A member of the organization’s board of trustees, Madam Regina Asanga said that the project was particularly timely because it gives young women the opportunity to speak out on climate change-related issues.
Asana said, “Climate change is a worldwide phenomenon and it has touched women the most.” She also attributed the causes of climate change to human activity,”. “Apart from the women serving as home managers, they (women) also bear the burden of climate change most, compared to their men counterparts”.
Speaking further, she said, “apart from the livelihood and ecological effects of oil and gas extraction, women also suffer health challenges, the poisonous effect of gas flaring which has been routine in communities such as Ibeno for the past 62 years on account of the activities of ExxonMobil”.
The initiative, which started in September 2022, is being carried out with the assistance of Urgent Action Fund Africa. Government stakeholders from the Ministry of Environment (Climate Change section), Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Women Affairs have participated in lobbying sessions.
Story was adapted from Heritage Times.
