The Ministry of Women’s Affairs on Wednesday announced the planting of ten million economic trees and plants through the establishment of a Climate Division in the ministry.
The gender-responsive and age-sensitive climate initiatives would empower one million women in climate-smart agriculture and train 2,000 community-based female climate champions.
Speaking at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed that the move would be accompanied by the launch of the Women in Green Economy Project in 2025.
She stated, “We have committed to establishing a Climate Division in the Ministry to coordinate and drive sustainable gender-responsive and age-sensitive climate actions. Furthermore, we will introduce a Women in Green Economy Programme in 2025.
“Under this programme, we will engage women in planting ten million economic trees and plants, including the Nopal Cactus Cladodes, known for combating desertification and improving soil health.
“We will empower one million women in climate-smart agriculture, transition one million households to clean cooking energy, support 1,000 female-owned climate-friendly startups, train 500,000 women in agro-processing, and equip 2,000 community-based female climate champions to aid data collection and sensitisation in their communities.”
She emphasized that the vast effect of climate change could be curtailed if women were equipped with the appropriate platforms and tools.
“If we are to win this fight and reverse the effects of climate change, we must provide women with platforms and tools to participate, contribute, and drive the solutions the world urgently needs to meet the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
On the government’s strides, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the enactment of the Climate Change Bill, the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change, and the launch of the Energy Transition Plan seek to address climate change challenges.