NEW YORK, NY - By 2050, the number of climate change refugees could reach 150 million people, 80 percent will be women and children.  Women and girls comprise a majority of the world's 1.4 billion people who live below the poverty line, and are the most susceptible to the impact of climate change and the instability in disaster and crisis-prone countries.

Like all development challenges, climate change impacts men and women in different ways. Women and girls often have less access to early warning information, disaster preparation, and food, shelter and emergency supplies when disasters strike. And five times more women than men die from natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and droughts.

While women and girls can be more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and conflict, they're also critical to help mitigate it. Women often are aware about community practices and social norms that can be instrumental in designing strategies and programs to help communities address changing environmental conditions and improve conflict resilience and mitigation efforts. And yet, climate change strategies and peace negotiations often don't consider the specific needs of women and girls, or include their unique perspective in addressing this global imperative.  

To address these challenges and opportunities, USAID prioritizes women's empowerment and gender equality as demonstrated by the release of the Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy in March 2012 and subsequent implementation guidance. Additionally, gender is an integral component of every other Agency policy and strategy, including USAID's Climate Change and Development Strategy. USAID is also a leader in advancing technical knowledge on gender and climate change and by setting an example through concerted integration of gender into climate change initiatives.

That's why I'm thrilled to join economist Jeffrey Sachs, Lakshmi Puri, the Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women - Intergovernmental Support and Strategic Partnerships, and Eleanor Blomstrom, Program Director and Head of Office at the Women's Environment and Development Organization for a panel discussion on women, peace, security and climate change.

Hosted by the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, in partnership with UN Women and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the panel will discuss how women can play a meaningful role in the decision-making, planning and implementation of climate change strategies and good governance.