Senate President Akpabio and House Speaker Abbas Champion Gender Equality and Climate Action

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas have pledged their support for the Gender Equality Bill, which aims to promote women’s participation in governance.

Although there’s no direct information on their meeting with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) chief on climate change and gender equality, their efforts in promoting gender equality are notable.

Key Highlights

• Commitment to Gender Equality: Akpabio and Abbas have assured Nigerian women that the 10th National Assembly will revisit and support the Gender Equality Bill, which was previously rejected.
• Women’s Empowerment: Akpabio emphasized the importance of women’s empowerment, citing his own experience as a governor who implemented policies favoring women’s appointments in government.
• Climate Change and Gender: The IPU has been working to address the intersection of climate change and gender equality, recognizing that women are disproportionately affected by climate change and play a crucial role in climate action.

IPU’s Efforts on Climate Change and Gender

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has been at the forefront of promoting gender equality and addressing climate change. Some of their initiatives include:

• Empowering Women Parliamentarians: The IPU works to increase the number of women in parliament and support their participation in decision-making processes.
• Climate Action: The IPU helps parliaments become greener and implement the Paris Agreement, recognizing the critical role of parliamentarians in addressing climate change.
• Kigali Declaration: IPU member parliaments have adopted the Kigali Declaration, committing to accelerate progress towards gender equality.

Intersection of Climate Change and Gender Equality

Climate change exacerbates existing gender inequalities, with women and girls facing unique challenges, including:

• Increased Poverty: Climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty by 2050.
• Food Insecurity: Women and girls are more likely to face food insecurity and hunger due to climate change.
• Gender-Based Violence: Climate change is linked to increased levels of violence against women and girls.