"The technological challenges we face today cannot be addressed without the full involvement of both sexes. The role of women in contributing to viable solutions is crucial (...) and we cannot afford to exclude and waste the potential, skills and talent of women and girls, which remain untapped". With these words Elena Bonetti, Minister of Equal Opportunities and Family, opened the discussions of the online conference "STEM education as a stepping-stone towards gender transformative climate change policies", held on 15thMarch on the margins of the 66th Commission on the Status of Women.
Co-organised by the Council of Europe and Italy under the remit of the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and co-sponsored by Austria, the United Kingdom and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the conference was developed with the aim of affirming the impelling need for gender balance in science, research and innovation. It focused on the promotion of women in STEM education subjects, namely science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Alongside the presentation of some best practices already applied internationally in these disciplines, the dialogue between the participants highlighted challenges and opportunities related to the inclusion of women in the environmental issues’ fields of research: "We need the contribution of women to guide the ecological transition and the fight against climate change - continued the Minister - In this context, the conference could not have been more timely”.
What has emerged is the need for a cultural change, which will only be possible if we continue to work to enable girls and young women to actively and first-hand contribute to the definition of emerging policies and planning in areas such as mitigation, climate change and adaptation.