Green and sustainable development is a global trend and the goal of many countries, including those in Southeast Asia. The world faces challenges, a serious decline in environmental quality, and increasingly serious climate change. In that context, green development is considered a fundamental solution to meet economic development and environmental protection requirements, helping adapt to climate change and minimise the risk of natural disasters and epidemics in each country.

Illustrative image (Photo: Thanh Dat)

It can be seen that women are the ones who are most negatively affected by global climate change, environmental pollution, and epidemics. Still, at the same time, they are also a positive factor in protecting the environment, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and contributing to green, inclusive and sustainable development. The business community, including female businesses, is an important force in implementing sustainable development goals, an inseparable part of the National Strategy on Green Growth.

Over the years, the Vietnam Women’s Union has held many practical activities to develop the green economy, such as mobilising women to participate in environmental protection and response to climate change, and accompanying female entrepreneurs in promoting the economy towards green and sustainable growth. Many initiatives on clean production, processing, consumption, and green living models have been responded to by women nationwide.

Various competitions and events have been launched for women, such as the startup event themed “Women and the future of the green economy” in 2019, “Women startups enhance OCOP product brands” in 2022, “Women startups promote local resources” in 2023, and “Women startups, innovation and green transformation” in 2024. The startup initiative encouraged the participation of women nationwide, including vulnerable women groups, contributing to the development of the green startup ecosystem.

However, the role of women in environmental protection, climate change adaptation and economic development, especially the green economy, has not been fully recognised and promoted due to gender stereotypes. Women-owned businesses still face difficulties accessing finance, land, technology, and support resources. Knowledge and skills related to the green economy, trade and investment, are still limited because women-owned enterprises often operate on a small and medium scale.

Creating economic strength for women in association with environmental protection will contribute to increasing income and stable jobs for women, minimising gaps between male and female roles, and enhancing the role of women in building a green economy.

Therefore, it is necessary to remove barriers and prejudices and encourage women to participate in the green economy, to ensure good working conditions for women. Women-owned enterprises should raise awareness of the necessity of greening the economy; promote communication work and mobilise women to participate in economic development activities associated with environmental protection; as well as conduct clean agriculture models with limited use of pesticides. In addition, agencies and organisations should actively support women, to bring their green goods to consumers.

Women’s associations at all levels, need to renew and diversify communication activities on supporting start-ups and the requirements of a green economy in the current integration trend, to raise women’s awareness of start-ups. It is also necessary to strengthen guidance and accompany women in building economic development models suitable for local weather and conditions and models that utilise recycled materials while implementing principles of reducing waste in production and business activities.

In the era of the 4.0 industrial revolution, women need to actively study and improve skills to master knowledge and raise awareness of greening the economy. They should boost the application of environmentally friendly production processes and technologies, increasing the power, role and contribution of women in all aspects of life and fostering gender equality.