This OECD Global Forum on Environment dedicated on "Mainstreaming Gender and Empowering Women for Environmental Sustainability" took place on the 5th and 6th March 2020. Over two days, participants discussed the gender – environmental sustainability nexus, identifying and proposing ways to capitalise on synergies between environmental policies and economic and social goals, such as achieving gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. The Global Forum covered the following issues: • Integrating gender into environmental policies: Data and evidence challenges; • Differentiated environmental impacts on women’s and men’s health and well-being; • Sustainable and gender-inclusive urbanisation, settlements and transport infrastructure; • Gender-specific consumption patterns, behavioural insights, and circular economy; • Biodiversity, agriculture, fisheries: changing economic opportunities for women and men; • Greening energy and ensuring a just transition for men and women; • Environmental justice and empowering women and youth. More information on the Global Forum on Environment focusing on gender can be found here: http://www.oecd.org/env/global-forum-on-environment-mainstreaming-gender-and-empowering-women-for-environmental-sustainability.htm More information on the OECD Environment Directorate’s work on gender, inclusiveness and the SDGs can be found here: http://www.oecd.org/environment/gender-inclusiveness-and-sdg.htm

1. SUSTAINABLE WATER
MANAGEMENT
CONSUMPTION, CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND (DIFFERENCES) IN
BEHAVIOUR AND PREFERENCES
LESHA WITMER, WOMEN FOR WATER STEERING COMMITTEE

2. WOMEN FOR WATER
• FEDERATION – 28 (DIRECT) MEMBERS – BUT REPRESENTING 1,5 MILLION WOMEN
• HIGH DIVERSITY FROM GRASSROOTS TO ACADEMICS
• ACTIVE ON ANY WATER ISSUE LOCALLY – DEPENDING ON LOCAL
CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONCERNS (ALL TYPES OF COUNTRIES)
• ADVOCATING FOR AND SUPPORTING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION AS KEY TO
ENABLE AND EMPOWER WOMEN
• ADVOCATING FOR AND SUPPORTING VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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3. WOMEN’S (AND CSO IN GENERAL) (POTENTIAL ROLE AND
CONCERNS)
• WOMEN MORE INCLINED TO LOOK AT ENVIRONMENTAL AND
HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL
• THEY ARE IMPACTED BUT ALSO MAJOR ACTORS
• WOMEN ARE MAINLY IN CHARGE OF DOMESTIC (INCLUDING SME
FARMING) USE OF WATER: THEY GET MIXED MESSAGES!
• (MULTIPLE) USE AND RE-CYCLING (COOKING / CATERING,
CLEANING, HYGIENE ISSUES);
• HANDLING WASTE AND WASTE WATER
ALSO MAJORITY OF AGRICULTURE WORKERS, HEALTH CARE, ETC.
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4. WHAT CAN HELP:
• PREVENT LEAKAGE (INTRODUCE WATER METERS) AWARENESS ON
QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER; REDUCE BOTTLED WATER USE
(SURINAME EXAMPLE) AND WHO GETS THE BILL?
• LABELING – WATER USE / WATER FOOTPRINT
• ADAPTATION OF HYGIENE TRAINING
• AWARENESS ON TOXICS/ CHEMICALS (COSMETICS, TEXTILES) AND
POLLUTION THROUGH TEXTILES (BRING DOWN BUYING/ REUSE/
WORKING CONDITIONS)
• TALK TO THE WORKERS, NOT JUST THE OWNERS OR MANAGEMENT
(AGRICULTURE, HEALTH CARE, ETC)
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5. THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE UP AGAINST
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