Anna Maria Oltorp, Head of Regional Development Cooperation Section from the Swedish Embassy in Thailand has called for a fairer green transition in Asia-Pacific, warning that vulnerable groups risk being left behind, according to UN Women Asia and the Pacific.
Speaking at a UN-backed forum in Bangkok, she said climate policies must include everyone and respect human rights.
Concerns over impact of green transition
Oltorp warned that even projects labelled as “green” can have negative impacts, such as land loss, water shortages and people being excluded from decision-making.
Experts at the forum also stressed that women, young people and marginalised communities must be included as countries shift towards renewable energy.
The meeting was part of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, which supports efforts to reach the United Nations’ development goals by 2030.
