High time to #breakthebias
Gender equality is still an elusive term not just in Bangladesh, but all across the world, despite so much economic progress and so many measures taken by policymakers. Stereotyped political, social, and cultural values continue to act as barriers for women's advancement. That's why, despite the world's unstoppable progress on various fronts, women in positions of power are still few and far between. In Bangladesh, female participation in the labour force has increased to 38.5 percent at present from only four percent in 1974. Women are working in not only agriculture or the export-oriented RMG sector, but also in many non-traditional and emerging sectors at an increasing rate. Higher participation in education has created scopes for securing high-valued jobs for Bangladeshi women. Yet, the number of female participants in these sectors is still low and not many women can reach senior positions in these organisations. Gender gap in managerial positions in Bangladesh is as high as 88 percent, as per the 2021 Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF). We also frequently talk about wage gaps between male and female workers in many sectors, including apparels, construction and agriculture. Over 90 percent of working women have informal jobs. Because of such high informality of their jobs, their income and job security are also low—especially compared to men. According to the WEF, in 2021, women earned only 40.3 percent of the estimated earned income of men in Bangladesh. And the wage gap is true for highly educated executives and managers, too. Women often feel hesitant to bargain for their salary; many also do not know how to bargain. And men feel that women are not the breadwinners of their families, and their income is just "extra." Such thinking also exists among some women, unfortunately. That's why the struggle to establish gender equality is not fighting against certain sections of people, but against the system within which such biased values originate and are nurtured.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.