Улаанбаатар
Climate and Land Degradation Impacts on Rural Women and Girls Discussed in New York
Politics
Ulaanbaatar, July 22, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The Government of Mongolia, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) jointly organized a side event titled “Impact of Climate Change and Land Degradation on Rural Women and Girls” in New York City, the United States of America.
Held on the sidelines of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025 on Sustainable Development convened under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the meeting highlighted that rural women and girls classified among vulnerable populations process an estimated 60–80 percent of food and agricultural products, yet are highly exposed to the effects of climate change and land degradation and remain underrepresented in decision-making. The event aimed to engage rural women and girls not merely as beneficiaries in need of protection, but as leaders of change.
Executive Secretary of the UNCCD Ibrahim Thiaw delivered guest remarks, while Deputy Director of Policy Programme and Intergovernmental Division of UN Women Shoko Ishikawa moderated the discussion.
Participants included Permanent Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and Director of the Preparatory Office for the COP17 UNCCD Chimguundari Navaan-Yunden, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme Jamil Ahmad, and Managing Director of Climate Programs at the Nature Conservancy Rebecca Benner. They exchanged views and shared experiences on supporting women’s leadership through nature conservation and sustainable solutions.
