Keynote Speech: The Advantages of Involving Women in Sustainable Development Planning

In order to work toward sustainable development, it is important for a country to first decide what its development goals are, in social, economic, and environmental terms. These need to be articulated with international goals, for example, the United Nations Millennium Goals, post-Kyoto climate change agreements and Conventions such as those on the Rights of the Child, and the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women. Any expansion of energy production must focus on minimizing environmental – particularly environment health – damage, and ensure environmental justice, whereby no sector in society – and especially already vulnerable sectors – is disadvantaged by energy decisions taken.