We often underestimate female power and their role in the area of environment conservation and sustainable development. We forget that women are the first teachers to their children, hence, they play a major role in inculcating the concern towards development and environmental issues. Women manage water supply at home and they are ones who utilise maximum amount of water in the household as well as being responsible for providing hygienic drinking water. Hence, they play a major role in water management and usage.

Women have often been referred to as traditional natural scientists and have a good knowledge of local flora and fauna like herbal medicines, food and fuel, thus making them survival agriculturists. With that in mind, they play a vital role in conserving food, water and energy. In addition, they have the ultimate say in buying anything for the household, so they also play a vital role in conserving natural resources like buying home appliances with better energy efficient appliances.

They also have a say in planning vacations, so she can opt for a green vacation. Through family planning, women help in controlling the population growth of a country. In terms of resource utilisation, women are the major users of natural resources. In almost all countries, women have the primary responsibility for nutrition, child care and household management. In a lot of developing countries, women play a major role as farmers, animal tenders, and water and fuel collectors.

Women and environment are interrelated based on the roles that they play. Just like the environment, women are also life givers, nurturers of life and providers for the sustenance of life. Hence, as consumers, producers, caretakers of their families, women play an important role in the sustainable development through their concern for the quality and sustainability of life for the present and future generations.

So, when their needs are met, we can automatically tackle issues regarding the environment and development of a country. Yet, despite their important roles in society, women are not adequately represented in the decision-making processes related to the issues of environment and development at local, national or international levels.

— The reader is an Indian student based in Sharjah