Progress in Gender & Environmental Justice: A Continuing Beijing’s Platform for Action

    Twenty years after Beijing Platform for Action, some progress were made in gender and environmental justice on behalf of women. This panel was conducted by Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) and Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO), discussed the 20 years’ implementation of Beijing PA’s Chapter K “women and the environment” and how to adapt sustainable development goals into the further implementation of gender and environmental justice.

     Three strategies objectives of Beijing’s Chapter K “women and the environment” from 1995:
l   The involvement of women in environmental decision-making at all levels;
l   The integration of gender concerns and perspectives in policies and programs for sustainable development
l   The strengthening and establishment of mechanisms at nations, regional and international levels to assess the impact of development and environmental policies on women.

    In past years, women were actively involved in the implementation of Gender and Environmental justice, and also behaved as decision-makers in crafting good policies. However, a speaker pointed out that this is not enough, and more actions are needed. A real participation is not just like this. Women should not only involve in the decision-making process, but also get to know what is going on next. In addition, it is necessary for more women to involve in the process, but the quality of implementation is not limited to this. Instead, it is more important to make the policies and rights be applicable. The speaker encouraged everyone to step out own comfort zone, and try to make a difference. Moreover, compared with urban areas, women living in rural places are meeting more problems, such as hardships, poverty, food crisis, energy crisis and technological issues. Regarding to this, thorough policies are necessary in local and global levels.

    In the end, some challenges are recognized in the following twenty years. The first one is the implementation of the legislations. To effectively apply policies is the base for the future development. Second, gender mainstreaming in environmental policymaking is not systematic. A gender-based environmental policy still needs to be designed and implemented. Third, it is also necessary to develop more awareness of gender mainstreaming within the current society.