State govt brings women to forefront of climate change fight

Nagpur: In a unique initiative, the Maharashtra government has kickstarted the ‘Women4Climate’ programme that aims to bring women in Mumbai together to combat climate change.
Under the programme, the state government along with the C40 Cities Network will focus on bringing out leadership qualities in women so that stage can be set for the next generation of climate leaders. Women will get a chance to develop and implement action to accelerate their climate projects, and develop strategies to achieve the overall target of sustainable development goals.
State environment minister Aaditya Thackeray called on women to take part in this initiative and protect the environment from the effects of changing climate. “Women have always played an essential role in bringing revolutionary changes in society. Hence, we have initiated the international mentorship programme to groom women leaders at the forefront of this green revolution,” the minister said.
Highlighting that the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) is focusing on making more urban forest thickets, Thackeray said it must be ensured that citizens are involved in planting native trees, and cool the neighbourhoods.
He further announced that 1,900 electric buses will be added to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) fleet by 2023. At present, 386 electric buses are plying in the megacity.
Giving more information on the Women4Climate programme, officials said climate leaders will be selected through the city’s mentorship programme that will seek to put women mentees under the guidance of a mentor. “The programme will also empower them with the necessary tools and assistance. It will also arrange monthly webinars where mentees from different cities come together to learn about each other’s initiatives, share their achievements and ideas for improvements. Women4Climate will provide holistic support to further develop mentees' climate knowledge and leadership skills,” they added.
Application for the 10-month-long programme can be filled on the W4C.org website. The last date of application is October 18.