Women’s Forum Mauritius 2016 has called for innovative green growth and increased women role in meeting the future climatic challenges. The first-ever Women’s Forum Meeting in Africa also focused international attention on sustainable solutions for Mauritius. Women’s Forum Mauritius pressed on the need for rapid innovation to protect the world’s biodiversity and to advance climate action.
Building on the theme ‘Meeting the climate challenge for SIDS and Africa’ the high-level two-day meeting brought together more than 350 thought-leaders–scientists, policymakers, and business leaders, women and men from more than 40 countries.
Together they debated climate and health solutions; best practices for agriculture and biodiversity; sustainable energy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS); how to advance innovation in agriculture, health and land use; improving the participation of women and youth in scientific and technological training; processes for frugal green innovations with value-added for SIDS economies.
Drawing on the experiences of top-level speakers, delegates from around the world discussed climate and health: Challenges, opportunities, ways forward Climate, agriculture, biodiversity: Challenges, opportunities, ways forward Climate and energy: Challenges, opportunities, ways forward Sci-tech breakthroughs for biodiversity, agriculture, health, and energy Frugal GREEN innovation Bringing more women and youth into the innovation movement.
Organizers expressed interest in taking the forum to Australia in the future, following the success of meetings beyond the forum’s home (Deauville, France), in locations so far including Dubai, Mexico and Mauritius (2016) and South Africa (2017).
Since 2005 the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, a Public is Group company has been the world’s leading platform featuring women’s views and voices on major social and economic issues.
Her Excellency President of the Republic of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim welcomed participants at the international Women’s Forum meeting for a truly global conversation on the theme of “Meeting the Climate Challenge for SIDs and Africa.
Her Excellency President of the Republic of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim welcomed participants at the international Women’s Forum meeting for a truly global conversation on the theme of “Meeting the Climate Challenge for SIDs and Africa. She evoked Martin Luther King’s “fierce urgency of now” and emphasized the necessity of “the involvement of one and all, especially, women at all levels to tackle the adverse effects of a changing climate”. At the same time, she sounded a note of optimism, encouraging the audience in the packed plenary hall to recognize “new opportunities for innovative green growth, new sources of exports, and a stimulation of trade and innovation.
She evoked Martin Luther King’s “fierce urgency of now” and emphasized the necessity of “the involvement of one and all, especially, women at all levels to tackle the adverse effects of a changing climate.”
At the same time, she sounded a note of optimism, encouraging the audience in the packed plenary hall to recognize “new opportunities for innovative green growth, new sources of exports, and a stimulation of trade and innovation.
“The stakes are high declared President Gurib-Fakim, who achieved distinction as a world-renowned biodiversity expert before she was elected president of Mauritius.“A disproportionate burden is and will be borne by the poorest and most vulnerable countries and populations when in fact they are not responsible for global warming.
Achieving distinction as a world-renowned biodiversity expert before she began her political career, President Gurib-Fakim is well-placed to comment on the rich natural flora and fauna of her country while underlining why Mauritius is a global biodiversity hotspot.
High Commissioner Coles and Australian fair trade expert Karen Mapusa joined speakers from across Africa and the Globe for debate, sharing and presentations on issues including the importance of Biodiversity; Water and Sanitation Challenges; the role of innovation in Agriculture; Women’s’ leadership in Health and STEM, and many more. The key message: Women’s leadership, vision, and ingenuity are essential if we are to better protect the world’s biodiversity and advance climate action.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are already experiencing severe storms, flash floods and increased sea-level rise with seawater affecting potable water as well as impacting agricultural land. In drought-prone regions in Africa, food insecurity and poor harvests are now a reality.
Many African countries are facing failed crops and staples this year.”Jacqueline Franjou, CEO of the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society, paid tribute to President Gurib-Fakimas an important voice her for her country, for climate action, and for the cause of gender parity.
“We have an opportunity to demonstrate that gender parity is an urgent necessity for the improvement of our economies and societies,” she said”. As more women enter the economy, poverty declines, economic growth increases, and our ability to protect and preserve the planet improves. This is true whether we are in Mexico or in France, Myanmar or Brazil, Belgium or Italy, the UAE or Mexico –all countries where the Women’s Forum has played a role in enabling women’s voices to be heard.”
A Special Delegation from South Africa participated at Women’s Forum Mauritius and three Amazing Women shared stories about the way they became catalysts in their organizations and communities.
Since 2005 the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society has been holding meetings around the world on feature broad, rich and edgy debates, deploying the experience of both women and men business leaders, researchers, politicians, entrepreneurs… –across all generations and geographies.
Each meeting serves as a vital sounding board for today’s essential ideas, and as a springboard for tomorrow’s solutions. In addition to the annual Women’s Forum Global Meeting in Deauville, France, important Women’s Forum meetings have taken place in Brazil, Myanmar, Italy, Brussels, Dubai and Mexico. The 12th edition of the Women’s Forum Global Meeting is slotted for 30 November-2 December 2016 in Deauville, France.
High Commissioner Coles and Australian fair trade expert Karen Mapusa joined speakers from across Africa and the Globe for debate, sharing and presentations on issues including the importance of Biodiversity; Water and Sanitation Challenges; the role of innovation in Agriculture; Women’s’ leadership in Health and STEM, and many more. The key message: Women’s leadership, vision, and ingenuity are essential if we are to better protect the world’s biodiversity and advance climate action.
Being a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) and an African country, Mauritius has to ensure a development process that is sustainable and, at the same time, that safeguards the country’s precious natural resources. The biggest challenge is how to achieve rapid innovation towards green energy and food security in the face of ongoing climate disruption.
Among the nearly 60 speakers attending Women’s Forum Mauritius are Jill Farant, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, winner of the 2012L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science award; Nicolas Hulot, President, Fondation Nicolas Hulot pour la Nature et l’Homme; Segenet Kelemu, Director General, ICIPE winner of the 2014L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science award; Wanjira Mathai, Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town; and Laurence Tubiana, French ambassador for international climate negotiations.CEO Champions, a longstanding Women’s Forum Initiative, brings together for the first time in Mauritius a group of international leaders from the public and private sector in a special closed-door working session to consider ‘The gender gap in governance: Africa’
Amna Malik
Author is the President, Center Of Pakistan And International Relations (COPAIR) and Editor -in- Chief of ‘Mélange’. melangeisb@gmail.com