The Little Earth won the Gender Just Climate Solutions Award

2024-11-21 13:38

The Little Earth was announced as the winner of the 2024 Gender Just Climate Solutions Award in the Technical climate solutions category.

The 2024 Gender Just Climate Solutions Award ceremony took place yesterday (20 November 2024) on the sidelines of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Little Earth was announced as the winner of the award in the Technical climate solutions category.

“I am honored to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the Little Earth and the inspiring women of the Yagnob Valley in Tajikistan. It is a recognition not only of the results of our project, but of the women who are changing their lives and communities through innovation, sustainable environmental practices and self-empowerment,” said Anisa Abibulloeva, Youth engagement specialist at the Little Earth, who represented the organization at the award ceremony.

The Gender Just Climate Solutions Awards are granted every year to grassroots, community groups and non-governmental organizations tackling the climate emergency while advancing gender equality. These solutions are leading community solutions and system-changing climate action that bring multiple social and environmental improvements.

This year, the competition received around 350 applications from around the globe. The jury identified and selected three winners – one in each of the following nominations: Technical Solutions, Non-Technical Solutions, and Transformative Solutions. The Little Earth won the Technical Solutions award, sharing the podium with two other winners from Brazil and Mozambique.

The Little Earth submitted its project “Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Women’s Participation in Mountain Communities of Yagnob” to the competition, which aims to promote sustainable development of mountain communities and preserve ecosystems in the Yagnob National Nature and Ethnographic Park. By introducing sustainable energy solutions, raising awareness, and supporting women’s initiatives, the Little Earth combats energy poverty, increases women’s participation in decision-making, and reduces the burden on the environment.

“The award that our organization has received is further recognition of the importance of the work we do in remote mountain communities of Tajikistan. It reminds us that climate change and gender equality are inextricably linked. Women bear the disproportionate impacts of climate change. At the same time, they are important agents of change who can lead the movement towards a sustainable future. Change is possible when we join forces, inspire and support each other,” said Timur Idrisov, Senior advisor of the Little Earth and the initiator of the project.

The winners of the award receive a cash prize, support for participation in the climate negotiations at COP-29 and long-term mentoring support to scale up their solutions.

The Gender-Just Climate Solutions Awards was established in 2015 by the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The aim of the award is to demonstrate real solutions for a fairer, more equal and healthier planet. Previously recognized initiatives include women's energy cooperatives, advancing women's land ownership rights, ethnic women-led reforestation, and gender-sensitive water technologies.