Istanbul hosts crucial dialogue on gender equality and climate action ahead of COP29

UNDP and OECD call for investing in climate action that is just and gender-equal, ensuring a just transition that leaves no one behind 

October 17, 2024

Women and Solar energy — Photo: UNDP Kosovo

Istanbul, Türkiye, 17 October 2024 - Ahead of the upcoming COP29, to be hosted by Azerbaijan in November, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in partnership with the Government of Türkiye, convened leaders, policymakers, civil society, private sector and academia for a two-day dialogue to discuss linkages between gender equality and an inclusive climate agenda and to call for greater investments in gender equality as an accelerator for climate action.

This year’s second Istanbul Development Dialogue (IDD), co-organised by UNDP and the OECD Istanbul Centre, builds on the success of the first one in May on "Scaling Up Climate Action”, and focuses on critical aspects needed to realise a just transition and to achieve climate goals and commitments set out in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement and the Pact for the Future.

Ivana Živković, UNDP Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, emphasised that “Commitment to gender equality and commitment to taking action on climate change are at the heart of our work at UNDP. Further investing in gender equality and particularly in STEM will advance innovation and more inclusive climate solutions.”

“Commitment to gender equality and commitment to taking action on climate change are at the heart of our work at UNDP. Further investing in gender equality and particularly in STEM will advance innovation and more inclusive climate solutions.”

Ivana Živković, UNDP Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia

OECD Deputy Secretary-General and Gender Champion Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen said, "Gender equality is a core value and a strategic priority for the OECD. It can help us tackle discriminatory barriers to promote women in STEM education and careers and meet the rising demand for green jobs. It can also support us to address the gender impacts of our policies and communicate them with transparency for a fair green transition". Based on the OECD policy paper “Harnessing the green and digital transitions for gender equality”, the OECD Deputy Secretary-General also encouraged the development of gender-responsive policies to support the participation of women in the green transition, such as investment in policies to redistribute unpaid care work, and the expansion of gender-disaggregated data to track progress.

"Gender equality is a core value and a strategic priority for the OECD. It can help us tackle discriminatory barriers to promote women in STEM education and careers and meet the rising demand for green jobs. It can also support us to address the gender impacts of our policies and communicate them with transparency for a fair green transition".

Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, OECD Deputy Secretary-General and Gender Champion

Ambassador Gülsun Erkul, Acting DG of Energy, Environment and Transboundary Waters and Representative of the Government of Türkiye, emphasised that partnerships and collaborative efforts to combat climate change are now more critical than ever, and encouraged continued cooperation with the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub and the OECD Istanbul Centre: "The world, and especially our region of Europe and Central Asia, is facing a growing threat from climate change. We are already experiencing the impacts of rising temperatures here in Türkiye, and we see firsthand the need for an urgent transition to low-carbon economies globally. We are happy to be an active part of investing in inclusive climate action policies."

"The world, and especially our region of Europe and Central Asia, is facing a growing threat from climate change. We are already experiencing the impacts of rising temperatures here in Türkiye, and we see firsthand the need for an urgent transition to low-carbon economies globally. We are happy to be an active part of investing in inclusive climate action policies."

Ambassador Gülsun Erkul, Acting DG of Energy, Environment and Transboundary Waters and Representative of the Government of Türkiye

#IDD2024 calls for climate action that puts people at the centre and recognises the interconnected nature of the challenges facing the world today, from climate to gender equality to peace and security.

Launched in 2015 with the support of the Government of Türkiye, the IDD serves as a collaborative platform for dialogue and cooperation on sustainable development challenges.

Visit the IDD landing page for updates on the Istanbul Development Dialogues and register for the event to follow the discussions online. Join the conversation using #IDD2024.

For media inquiries, please contact:

UNDP: Faik Uyanık, faik.uyanik@undp.org

OECD: Kira Schrödel, kira.schrodel@oecd.org