The Ministerial Initiative for the Environment was created because of the urgency sensed by Ministers to reverse dangerous trends in the world's development and to address a critical need for visionary and concrete policies toward sustainable development in their own countries and worldwide. The Ministers wanted to ensure that gender issues are raised in dealing with environmental issues globally. Indeed, the Ministers believe that women—who comprise more than one-half of the world's population—must maintain equitable participation in order to meet the complex environmental challenges of our time.
"The elimination of global poverty and the promotion of sustainable development are essential to a fair and equitable world. The current patterns of consumption and production are among the major causes of the degradation of the Earth’s resources. If the present trends in poverty growth, population expansion and production and consumption patterns continue, the negative impacts on natural resources, environment and health will only grow worse. And women, who represent a majority of the world’s poor, will continue to suffer disproportionately."
-The Ministerial Initiative for the Environment
Women have the primary responsibility for raising children, and for securing sufficient resources to meet their families' nutrition and health needs. Given the variety of women's daily interactions with the environment, they are the most keenly affected by its degradation. Because women constitute a majority of the world's lowest income population and are severely under-represented at decision-making tables, the Ministerial Initiative for the Environment focuses on increasing the involvement of women in sustainable development issues. The Initiative employs the belief that women bring to the table new ideas, approaches, and strategies for protecting people and natural resources while practicing truly sustainable development.
"Women bring a unique voice to the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. Their experience, their participation and their leadership are crucial to the success of world environmental efforts."
-The Ministerial Initiative for the Environment
Within the framework of the Ministerial Initiative for the Environment, the Council and its partners work to:
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Develop recommendations for practical solutions to global environmental problems
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Build partnerships with appropriate civil society, non-governmental and intergovernmental agencies
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Exchange best-practices and experience in order to implement more effective policies
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Create a critical mass of leadership to influence international and national policy
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