Women are playing a pivotal role in driving green innovation, a central theme at a side event during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). Organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Ethiopia and Austria to the UN, the event focused on the importance of gender equality in sustainable industrial development.
With 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and an upcoming review of SDGs 5 (gender equality) and 8 (decent work and economic growth), the discussion was both timely and critical. Leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts gathered to showcase success stories, discuss challenges, and advocate for inclusive policies that position women as key players in industrial transformation.
The panel discussion, moderated by UNIDO’s Aurelia Patrizia Calabrò, explored strategies for increasing women’s leadership in green industries. Lisa Ryden of Tetra Pak stressed the importance of integrating gender concerns into recycling, while Myconom co-founder Arıkan Burcu called for greater financial support for women-led startups. Taymour Ibrahim of UNIDO’s Rabeha Programme shared successes in empowering rural women.