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As the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches, the United Nations is leading preparations for a post-2015 development agenda both to accelerate achievement of the MDGs and to create a framework that will build on what has been achieved over the past 15 years. The central challenge for the post-2015 development agenda is “to ensure that globalization becomes a positive force for all the worlds’ peoples of present and future generations.”1 Building on the lessons learned from MDG implementation, post-2015 processes will be underpinned by the principles of inclusiveness, equality, human rights and sustainability, as well as by addressing the unequal development progress of women and men, girls and boys.
In June 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) marked the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Earth Summit). Launching a process for developing new sustain- able development goals, the Rio+20 Conference reflected the need for a renewed vision for sustainable development—a vision of increased livelihood security, equality and pros- perity for all. Member States defined sustainable development broadly, emphasizing that reducing poverty and eliminating inequalities are as central as protecting the environment.
Across regions and countries, evidence suggests that sustainable development strate- gies that do not promote gender equality and the full participation and empowerment of women and girls will not succeed. As gender equality, in addition to being a human right, is also catalytic to social, economic and environmental progress, it should be well- integrated into sustainable development policies, strategies and action plans.
This volume is a collection of contributions by gender and sustainable development experts who explore the interconnections between gender equality, economic develop- ment and environmental sustainability. The experts provide insights, critiques, lessons learned and concrete proposals for promoting gender equality and women’s empower- ment in international and national sustainable development efforts. The authors address development challenges across a range of sectors and global development issues such as energy, health, education, food security, climate change, human rights, consumption and production patterns and urbanization.
The papers address gender issues within and across the social, economic and envi- ronmental dimensions of sustainable development, and emphasize the need to draw on both women’s and men’s perspec- tives to inform the green economy. Some papers demonstrate how women and their communities could benefit from gender- responsive climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. In exploring multiple facets of economic development, the papers present how sustainable forms of economic development and consumption patterns could strengthen women’s resilience against natural disasters.