Recognizing the remarkable contributions of Pakistani women in combating climate change, the Pakistan Gender Climate Award 2024, held in Islamabad on May 8, honored three outstanding winners for their dedication and innovation in addressing environmental challenges.
Organized by the Embassy of France, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Delegation of the European Union (EU Pakistan), the French Development Agency (AFD), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC), the ceremony aimed to spotlight women’s pivotal role in advancing climate action.
Winners of Climate Gender Awards 2024
The winners of the Pakistan Gender Climate Award 2024 are:
- Qandeel Rehman (Climate Action)
- Umbreen Arif (Green Enterprise)
- Khalida Niaz (Young Climate Journalism)
Each winner was awarded a trophy and a cash prize of Rs1.2 million to further their projects and expand their work on the gender-climate relationship.
The Gender Climate Award received a robust response with 79 applications evaluated by a five-member committee to select the winners. Aisha Khan, executive director of the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change, expressed hope that this trend would raise awareness and encourage more women to actively participate in climate action.
“We hope this is a trend that we can build on to raise awareness and encourage women to participate more actively in climate action,” Aisha Khan said.
Pakistani women lead the charge in Climate Action
The event witnessed the presence of distinguished guests from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, diplomats, civil society representatives, academia, youth, and the media.
Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, commended the initiative, affirming her commitment to advancing the gender-climate agenda. “Women are the change and will change the future. They are our champions, and we have faith in their capabilities,” she said, emphasizing the transformative role of women in shaping the future.
Ambassador of France Nicolas Galey expressed delight in the collaborative efforts of the partner organizations, stressing the global imperative of combating climate change. He commended the winners for their exceptional leadership and innovative solutions, underscoring the invaluable contribution of Pakistani women to climate action.
“This demonstrates global awareness of the impact of climate change, and the need for everyone – men and women, governments, international organizations, and NGOs – to meet this challenge together,” he said. The ambassador also noted that “By honoring the three winners of this award, we pay tribute to the extraordinary women of Pakistan for their leadership in climate action and their efforts to find innovative and concrete solutions to make their communities more resilient.”
Echoing similar sentiments, EU Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Riina Kionka emphasized the critical role of female leadership in addressing climate challenges, emphasizing the need for investment in women’s empowerment. “Women are at the heart of our work in building a sustainable world. Investing in female leadership is key to climate solutions,” she said, adding that EU Pakistan will continue to honor the inspiring work of women in addressing climate challenges.
Muhammad Sultan AlKaitoob, Deputy Head of Mission at the UAE Embassy, highlighted the adverse impact of climate change on women’s lives, stressing the urgency for action and empowerment.
“The UAE recognizes the indispensable role that gender equality plays in building a sustainable and resilient future. Empowering women and girls not only enhances social cohesion but also accelerates progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action,” he added.
Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative of UNDP, congratulated the winners, urging them to inspire others and drive meaningful change. He emphasized the importance of breaking barriers and fostering collaboration to achieve tangible results in climate action.
Senator Sherry Rehman underscored the interconnectedness of climate and women’s issues, advocating for increased recognition and empowerment of women in resilience-building efforts. She called for scaling up events like the Gender Climate Award to inspire women across Pakistan, saying that “Climate and women are inextricably linked. The impacts of a planet on fire will further erode the capital of women. Spotlighting women and empowering them to become leaders is key to resilience.”