Today, within the framework of a meeting dedicated to the important role of women and girls in the fight against climate change, UNDP in Turkmenistan honored distinguished climate change activists by announcing the following winners in the “Women Leaders in Sustainable Development category”:

• Youth activism in the fight against climate change - Leyli Yagshiyeva, Young SDG Ambassador, representative of the UNDP Regional Youth Network from Turkmenistan;
• Women's leadership in the fight against climate change - Sabina Narkulieva, employee of the hyakimlik of Dyanev etrap, Lebap velayat;
• Promoting the principles of environmental sustainability - Gulnara Taijanova, eco-activist, founder of the 1st online eco-market;
• Rural Women for Sustainable Development - Altyn Andaliyeva, eco-activist, entrepreneur.

“Our future depends on our actions today. We all have a role to play in building our future, we must all act now to protect our world from destruction and pollution”, said Leyli Yagshiyeva, UNDP Climate Action Award nominee. “I will do my best to continue to be at the forefront of efforts to combat climate change”.

Women's empowerment and gender equality are vital to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It aims to achieve “universal respect for human rights and human dignity”, building a world in which “every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality and where there are no legal, social or economic barriers to the empowerment of every woman and girl”.

Earlier, we reported that UNDP in Turkmenistan organized a meeting - an open dialogue with a focus on the important role of women and girls in the fight against climate change.