Vienna, 30 October 2024 - UNIDO and UNODC, together with the Permanent Mission of Sweden, Finland and Norway in Vienna, hosted the sixth Vienna Discussion Forum (VDF), a platform dedicated to addressing gender equality within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s VDF was themed “Why Waste It? Unlocking Opportunities for Environmental Protection and Gender Equality” address the intertwined challenges of waste management, environmental justice, and gender equality. Moderated by H.E. Ambassador Maurice Odhiambo Makoloo of Kenya, the forum brought together international leaders, the private sector, academics, UN officials, civil society representatives, and notably, engaged youth representatives from the Diplomatic Academy Vienna and AIESEC Austria. The students’ active participation enriched the discussions, highlighting the importance of empowering younger generations in tackling global issues.

The event opened with insights from global leaders. Minister Paulina Brandberg of Sweden underscored the essential role of gender equality in achieving sustainable waste management. She highlighted the disproportionate vulnerabilities women face, particularly in lower-paid and high-risk positions within the waste sector. UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment to gender equality, noting that nearly half of UNIDO’s projects contribute directly to this goal. He emphasized the pressing need to support women, particularly in the informal waste sector, who face health risks and environmental hazards daily. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC, addressed the forum on waste crime, highlighting the organization’s gender-sensitive approach in tackling illegal waste trafficking, which affects women in developing and underserved areas.

Panelists explored specific challenges, with Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) professor Guri Bang discussing how the transition to a circular economy should prioritize “just transition” principles that protect vulnerable communities, while Kari Herlevi from Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund emphasized the importance of integrating circular economy education, from kindergartens to universities. Alpaslan Deliloglu, CEO of IKEA Austria shared IKEA’s sustainable supply chain practices, highlighting their commitment to women’s leadership, equal pay, and inclusion in sustainability-driven projects.

A notable segment featured Joana Amican, an e-waste dismantler from Manila and a beneficiary in a GEF-funded UNIDO the project “Implementation of PCB Management Programs for Electric Cooperatives and Safe e-wastes Management”. Amican shared her transformation from informal worker to community leader, stressing importance of listening the voices of women, and the value of technical assistance programs in empowering women as leaders and change makers within the circular economy.

The forum's discussions spotlighted actionable pathways for advancing gender-inclusive environmental policies. All panelists urged a participatory approach to policy-making, ensuring women’s representation in environmental decisions and recognizing waste as a resource rather than a burden. The forum concluded with a strong call to action for multi-sector collaboration in building a future where sustainable practices and gender equality go hand in hand, paving the way for a circular economy that is both inclusive and resilient.

Ultimately, the Vienna Discussion Forum aligns with the broader mission of UNIDO and its partners to foster an inclusive and sustainable industrial landscape that benefits everyone and leaves no one behind. The event also aligns with the system-wide gender equality acceleration plan launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in March 2024, recognizing the centrality of gender responsiveness and inclusion in industry development. By addressing gender disparities in environmental protection and circular economy globally, UNIDO aims to empower women and contribute to the achievement of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to gender equality (SDG 5), industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9), and partnerships (SDG 17).

The Vienna Discussion Forum is an annual event to discuss gender equality and the empowerment of women in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Details on the 2023 Forum can be found here and here.

Details on the 2022 Forum can be found here.

Details on the 2021 Forum can be found here and here.

Details on the 2020 Forum can be found here and here.

Details on the inaugural 2019 Forum can be found here and here.

For more information, please contact:

Emmi Ylinen

Division of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Email