Executive summary

The lives of a significant portion of the population in the Asia-Pacific region are inextricably tied to the use of environment for daily support and livelihood, especially women’s lives. For instance, more than 80 per cent of rural households in the region use biomass for fuel, compared with only 25 cent of urban households, which affects a preponderance of women more than men. Around 58 per cent of the economically active women in the region are in the agriculture sector. Women constitute 54 per cent of the labour force in small-scale inland fisheries in the region. If the agenda of sustainable development is to advance in this region, countries need to understand—and then respond to— the gender-based realities (including inequalities and disparities) in the sphere of managing the environment and natural resources.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Gender Equality