The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), held in Yerevan, Armenia, provided an important opportunity to bring women’s leadership and meaningful participation into discussions on biodiversity and climate action, highlighting the need to recognise women’s and youth’s knowledge, experiences and contributions in shaping environmental priorities and solutions.
OxYGen Foundation, Armenia, and Left International Forum have an ongoing partnership. As part of this collaboration, OxYGen participated in COP17, including involvement in the Women in Climate Awards and the Youth Summit. In collaboration with partner organisations and other stakeholders, OxYGen sought to bring greater visibility to the contributions of women and young people and to emphasise the importance of ensuring that their voices, perspectives and ideas are meaningfully reflected in environmental decision-making and action.
From the Women in Climate Awards. Photo credit: WiCE NGO
The Women in Climate Awards celebrated women and girls whose work and initiatives contribute to climate action, biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability. Receiving more than 120 applications was particularly encouraging, demonstrating the breadth of women’s engagement and the many ways in which they contribute to addressing environmental challenges.
From the Youth Summit. Photo credit: APY NGO
The Youth Summit brought together young people from Armenia and around the world, creating a space to exchange perspectives, share ideas and discuss their role in advancing biodiversity and climate action in their communities and countries. It highlighted that young people are active contributors to solutions today.
These efforts are closely connected to Green Voices: Advancing Youth- and Gender-Responsive Climate Action in Armenia, a project implemented by OxYGen Foundation, Armenia, in partnership with Left International Forum. The project places women’s and youth’s leadership and meaningful participation at the centre of climate action. It aims to strengthen women’s and youth’s knowledge, capacities and opportunities to influence environmental and climate-related decisions that directly affect their lives and communities.
Through research on gender and climate vulnerabilities, capacity-building, support for women-and youth-led community initiatives and dialogue with decision-makers, Green Voices works to ensure that women’s and young people’s experiences, priorities and solutions are recognised and reflected in broader climate and environmental policies.
