Bruxelles, 21 November 2017 – The European Parliament has adopted today the Opinion of the EP Committee on Development on Women, Gender Equality and Climate Justice. MEP Željana Zovko participated in drafting of the Opinion as a shadow rapporteur on behalf of the European People’s Party.
In her amendments Zovko reminded that women were very vulnerable to adverse effects of climate risks owing to sociocultural and economic barriers, poverty and dependence on natural resources for their livelihood.
Furthermore, Zovko urged to further development of policies or better implementation of the existing ones, so that they may provide an appropriate response to economic, medical and psychological needs of women in crises, as for example after natural disasters.
Zovko pointed out to importance of involving all areas of society, particularly women and other vulnerable groups in the decision-making process when it comes to prevention of climate changes and encouragement of investments, in order to give them an opportunity to generate some benefits for themselves. Zovko pointed out that the paradigm had to be changed and the gender issues placed at the very core of the climate management efforts and investments in that area.
Zovko also stressed the importance of resolving the gender-differentiated investment risks in sustainable agriculture.
“The European Union has to support the developing countries to reform laws and eliminate discriminatory practices that restrict women’s ownership of and access to production and financial instruments and technologies, particularly in agriculture.“ – reads the adopted amendment of the MEP Zovko.
Zovko called for further development of policies which may enable access to affordable, reliable and modern energy sources in line with the SDG 7. She stressed the importance of addressing the gender-differentiated investment risk in energy in order to speed up the universal access to energy.