7 February 2013: UN Women recently hosted an interactive discussion on women and sustainable development, during which participants discussed, inter alia: the role of women in sustainable development and the post-2015 development agenda; how women can contribute to and benefit from sustainable development; and UN Women’s work on sustainable development.

In the chat, which took place via Twitter on 7 February 2013, participants asked John Hendra, UN Women, about gender mainstreaming in the post-2015 agenda and possible Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for women. He highlighted that the post-2015 agenda and SDGs must address the causes and drivers of distress, inequality, human insecurity and poverty, and called for a new paradigm that recognizes people and planetary boundaries. In addition, environmental sustainability, gender equality, resilience and freedom from violence should be central in the post-2015 agenda, he said.

On economic opportunities for women, he noted that: women play a critical role in inclusive, sustainable economic systems; green growth is “not enough” because it overlooks inequality and social development, and reduces sustainability to a technocratic exercise; and women are under-represented in environmental decision-making and in ministerial positions in energy, environment and natural resources.

UN Women and participants also stressed: integration among the three pillars of sustainable development; linkages among gender equality, sustainable development and water and sanitation services; and access to social protection and services. [UN Women Press Release]