According to the statement made by the Presidency, in the panel held in Antalya, the participation of women and young people in decision-making processes in the fight against climate change, climate education and increasing social awareness, and the development of inclusive climate policies were discussed.
In the panel, the role of women and youth against the environmental, economic and social effects of climate change was evaluated.
In the session moderated by Forward Thinking Program Director Jordan Morgan, the importance of the active participation of women and young people in the preparation and implementation of climate policies was discussed through different country experiences and inclusive policy examples.
In addition, suggestions were shared regarding cooperation opportunities between public institutions, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and the private sector, improving climate literacy and strengthening the leadership capacities of women and young people in the field of climate.
Morgan, who moderated the panel, pointed out in his opening speech that climate action consists of three stages: determining commitments, turning these commitments into legal regulations, and achieving concrete results by implementing them.
Stating that the success of climate policies should be measured not only by international commitments but also by the change these commitments create in the daily life of societies, Morgan emphasized that who has a say in the decision-making, legislation creation and implementation processes is a fundamental issue.
AK Party Istanbul Deputy Sena Nur Çelik Kanat also pointed out the importance of transforming global climate commitments into concrete and sustainable practices within the framework of the "From Dialogue to Consensus, Consensus to Action" approach determined by Türkiye for the COP31 Presidency.
Pointing out that climate change threatens food and water security, especially in West Asia, North Africa and Europe, Kanat stated that women and young people are among the more vulnerable groups to the effects of the climate crisis.
Kanat listed increasing social awareness in climate action and ensuring the active participation of women and young people in decision-making processes as the main priorities, and cited Türkiye's Zero Waste Movement, Green Homeland Program, Climate Portal, Climate Ambassadors Program and climate education studies as examples.
Kanat stated that the obstacles to women's participation in climate leadership should be removed, women's cooperatives and youth initiatives should be facilitated in accessing climate finance, and equality of opportunity should be ensured in the green economy. In his evaluations for parliaments, Kanat pointed out that the participation of women and youth organizations in climate policies should be guaranteed, climate finance should be delivered to local and inclusive initiatives, and climate commitments should be audited annually.
Kanat emphasized the importance of translating the Antalya Action Protocol into national policies and ensuring that women and young people have an active say in climate decisions.
Deputy of the Jordanian House of Representatives, Dina Al Bashir, also conveyed the reforms and practices aimed at increasing the participation of women and young people in political and economic decision-making processes in Jordan.
Stating that the representation of women and young people in decision-making mechanisms is a priority issue despite regional crises and economic difficulties, Al Bashir noted that changes have been made in the election and political party legislation within the scope of the political reforms carried out in 2022.
Al Bashir stated that in line with the new regulations, it is required to ensure at least 20 percent female and 20 percent youth representation in the establishment of political parties, and that at least two women and one young person under the age of 35 must be included in the election lists.
Stating that following these reforms, 27 female deputies took part in the parliament elected in 2024 and female representation reached 20 percent, Al Bashir stated that women's participation in the workforce in Jordan is at 18 percent and youth unemployment continues to be an important problem.
Stating that there is a need for regulations that will encourage women and youth employment, Al Bashir emphasized that legal reforms should be supported by cultural change and social awareness studies.
Al Bashir emphasized the importance of including the voices of women and youth in war and peace processes.
Oman Environment Agency Nature Conservation Advisor Dr. Thuraya Al Sariri also evaluated the Sultanate of Oman's efforts to strengthen the role of women and youth in the environment and energy sectors.
Drawing attention to the holistic representation model created with the participation of the public, private sector and non-governmental organizations, Al Sariri stated that the diversification of educational opportunities, policies supporting equal opportunities and administrative responsibilities undertaken by women contribute to the progress in this field.
Stating that Omani women and young people play an active role not only as implementers but also in decision-making mechanisms in environmental protection, green energy strategies and climate change adaptation and mitigation processes, Al Sariri emphasized that this inclusive approach has an important place in achieving the Oman Vision 2040 and 2050 Net Zero Emission targets.
Al Sariri stated that the representation exhibited at international events and in the Oman Pavilion reflects the country's climate vision.
Shockat Adam, Member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, also stated that the effects of climate change on women and youth should be evaluated through concrete examples and that these groups should be actively involved in the creation and implementation of climate policies.
Drawing attention to the negative effects of the climate crisis, especially on access to water, education, health and livelihoods, Adam evaluated the consequences of green transformation and automation processes on women's employment through the experience of the textile industry in Leicester, United Kingdom, and the example of Bangladesh.
Stating that the fact that female employees lost their jobs despite the green transformation of textile factories in Bangladesh shows that gender equality should be taken into account in transformation policies, Adam also touched upon the health and livelihood problems faced by women working in tea agriculture in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh due to extreme heat.
Adam pointed out that although women make significant contributions to agricultural production in Pakistan and African countries, they are not recognized as farmers and are excluded from decision-making processes.
As a positive example, Adam cited the contribution of disaster preparedness efforts led by female volunteers in Bangladesh to reducing casualties, and stated that young people are taking responsibility in the climate fight with legal initiatives.
Adam emphasized that the participation of women and young people in decision-making mechanisms will benefit not only these segments but also the whole society.
