Women, Environment and

Sustainable Development

Prof. Natividad F. Lacdan

Department of Biology
University of the Philippines Manila

Present day scenario

The survival of Mankind is at its

highest risk, brought about by
environmental havoc, he himself
wrought on Mother Earth

The present - day state of

the environment indicates
the kind of creatures we
have been and the kind
of creatures we need to
become in order to survive

Wisdom now dictates a balancing act of

sustaining our economic development at
the least cost to the environment - waging
an environmental revolution in our minds

Mans complacency and

lack of understanding of this
delicate balance in nature
invariably leads to major
catastrophes such as:

The Tragedy of the Commons:

If I wont use this resource,
someone else will
The little bit I use or pollute
Is not enough to matter

Survival of mankind entails another revolution.

As we try to offset for the greed and blunders
of the predecessors, we now enter the
Sustainability Revolution.

SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT:
Meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of
the future generation to meet their
own needs

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
Is the harmonious integration of:
A sound a viable economy
Responsible governance
Social cohesion
Ecological integrity

to ensure that DEVELOPMENT is a LIFE SUSTAINING PROCESS

Three sets of objectives to be integrated:
Economic Objectives
Growth
Equity
Efficiency

Ecological Objectives
Ecosystem integrity
Carrying capacity
Biodiversity
Global issues

Social objectives
Empowerment
Participation
Social mobility
Social cohesion
Cultural identity
Institutional development

Principles of Sustainable Development

Sound and a viable economy
Viable, sound and broad based economic development
Responsible governance
Self determination
National sovereignty
Participatory democracy
Institutional viability
Global cooperation

Principles of Sustainable Development

Social Cohesion
Primacy of developing full human potential
Gender sensitivity
Peace, order and national unity
Social justice, inter and intra generational equity
and spatial equity
Sustainable population
Ecological integrity
Ecological soundness
Holistic science and appropriate technology
Biogeographical equity and community based
resource management

There are no short cuts to sustainable development

in the 21st century

Nature and people must be nurtured to sustain economic growth.

Let us work together for AGENDA 21: Our agenda for
Sustainable Development

Key actors in Sustainable Development

GOVERNMENT policy making and governance
(security of human rights
CIVIL SOCIETY culture
(development of the social
and spiritual capacity of
human beings)
BUSINESS economy
(production of goods
and services)

Action Agenda across Ecosystem

Integrating sustainable development in governance

Creating and enabling economic environment

Improving conditions for employment productivity and income

Implementing Mechanism
Strengthening the roles and capacities of major groups
Information, Education and communication
Finance means and strategies

Local action agenda

Womens overwhelming responsibility

for the provision of fuel, water and food
indicates a close relationship with
and dependence upon the local
government hence, a particular
vulnerability to environmental change
Where the key components of the ecosystem
energy, land and water are degraded,
it womens lives that are most likely to be
adversely and directly affected.

The connection whether spiritual,

biological or social as a source of power
and celebration is a sign of womens greater
sensitivity and capacity to care for nature.

Womens procreative capacity,

to some, is itself a source of
biological tie with natures life
giving process.

The association of women with nature

is a more metaphorical
(Mother Earth, Mother Nature)
but equally powerful source of what they
see as their moral call to stewardship and
protection of the environment

Women are in the front line in the

quest for Sustainable Development but
have, for too long, been forced to take a
back seat role with respect to men so it is
high time that their contribution is recognized
-Klaus Toepfler
and that time has come.
Director, UNEP (07 Mar. 2005)

The decision calls on government and the

international community to mainstream gender
equality rights across the board from education to
policy and programs, including poverty reduction
strategiesInternational commitments and treaties
affecting women should be given special attention
such as chemicals, heavy metals, water and
sanitation and human settlements.
-Klaus Toepfler
Director, UNEP (07 Mar. 2005)

Women should enjoy equal access to

economic activities, market opportunities,
land tenure and natural resources.
Development and environmental policies
should specifically address their impact on
women.
-Klaus Toepfler
Director, UNEP (07 Mar. 2005)

While women have considerable

knowledge and experiences in
managing natural resources, there are
barriers that limit their assumption of
the role in achieving Sustainable
Development. These include:
discrimination and lack of access to
schooling, land and equal employment.

Women and sustainable development issues are

an essential component of Agenda 21
Human development, if not engendered,
is endangered

Urges countries to increase the proportion of

women decision makers, planners, scientists,
technical advisers, managers and extension
workers in environment and developmental
fields.
- (Agenda 21, Chapter 24)

Issues providing the framework for achieving

gender equality and sustainable development
Womens human rights and control of their lives

Poverty Eradication
Womens access to resource and services
Womens control and management of resources

Globalization
Finance and development
Health, including environmental health

Strategies in achieving the goals of

Sustainable Development
Full awareness and equal participation
of women in formulating policies and
decision making
Awareness raising, capacity
building, education and training of
women and men; and of all people in
developing gender sensitivity
trainings; guidelines for gender
mainstreaming
Institutional mechanisms for
advancements of women

Mainstreaming Gender in Achievement of WSS MDGs

By Hon. Maria Mutagamba, Chair of AMCOW and Minister of
State for Water, Uganda
* Women have a critical role to play in promoting a new attitude
towards the use of water resources.
MDG on gender equality and empowerment, there is a need to
steer the formulation and implementation of a cross-cutting
gender strategy for all its activities.

 * The strategy will include elements of organizational

capacity building and change management to
mainstream gender in management of water resources,
and delivery of water and sanitation services.
* Best practices in gender mainstreaming in programs
and activities relating to water, sanitation and good
hygiene will be documented and disseminated.
* Credible sex-aggregated data and gender-analytical
information on water, sanitation and hygiene will also be
assembled and made available to those who need it, to
formulate gender-sensitive water resources
developments projects and programs

Treat the Earth well. It was not given

to you by your parents, it was loaned
to you by your children.