Angela Joo-Hyun Kang, Founder and Executive President of Global Competitiveness Empowerment Forum (GCEF) was invited as a panelist of the session on climate change of the Inception Meeting of Women 20 (W20), G20's official policy recommendation group for gender equality and women's economic empowerment to kick-off the India's G20 presidency year, 2023.
Ms. Kang with her roles as Co-Head of South Korean Delegation and Co-Chair the W20 Climate Change Taskforce for the 2023 Indian presidency period, emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of women and girls in all areas of mitigation, adaptation, and just transition to address climate change as well as harnessing the role of green investment. She recommended G20 leaders to consider the establishment a high-level panel on gender and climate change and advocated for the inclusion of W20 in the G20 Environmental Ministers meeting. The W20 Climate Change TF consisting of 27 delegates from 15 countries (G7 except Canada - UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, Japan + BRICS except China - Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa + MIKTA except Australia - Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey + Argentina) contributed the climate change section of 2023 W20 Communique, W20's policy recommendations to G20.
High-level government officials from the central government of India (Minister of Women & Children Development, G20 Sherpa, Joint Secretary G20, etc.) and the government of Maharashtra (Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Minister of WCD & Tourism, etc), where Aurangabad, the event venue city is located, representatives of G20/W20 member states, international organizations (ADB, UNESCO, UN Women, OECD, etc.), and professional organizations (amfori, Harvard Kennedy School Women's Network, etc.) attended.
As the pre-event of the 2023 W20 India's Inception Meeting, W20 India organized its Jan-Bhagidari event on Feb. 26, 2023 at MGM University with the participation of around 1,000 women from Anganwadi workers, women from various NGOs, and grassroots women. Ms. Kang representing South Korea and international W20 delegates from Indonesia, Russia, Japan, and South Africa shared their views on the journey of empowerment.
• Event: 2023 W20 India's Inception Meeting
• Topic: The theme of the 2023 G20 India (One Earth, One Family, and One Future)
• Format: Offline international event (Some online participating speakers and live streaming on YouTube)
• Date: February 27 (Mon) - 28 (Tue), 2023
• Venue: Vivanta Hotel & ITC Rama Hotel, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
• Composition:
26th (Sun): Pre-event - Jan-Bhargidari event at MGM University
27th (Mon): Opening Ceremony - Session 1: Women Nano/Micro/Start-up Entrepreneurs - Session 2: Climate Change - Session 3: Grassroots Women - Session 4: Digital Inclusion - W20 Delegation Meeting - Special Session: Women-led Development of Maharashtra State - Welcome Dinner
28th (Tue): Aurangabad Heritage Tour & Smart City Corporation Visit - Session 5: Education and Skill Development - Session6: Women-led Development and Legal Frameworks - Taskforce & Wrap-up Meeting - Visit to Ellora Caves - Cultural Programme and Gala Dinner
• Climate Change Session:
Moderator: Martina Rogato, Founder of ESG Boutique & Chair of W20 Climate Change TF (Italy)
Panel Discussion:
Angela Joo-Hyun Kang, Founder and Executive President of Global Competitiveness Empowerment Forum (GCEF) and Co-Chair of W20 Climate Change TF (South Korea)
Samantha Jane Hung, Chief of Gender Equality Thematic Group, ADB (International Organization)
Natasha Zarine, C-Founder & Managing Director, Center for Applied Research and People's Engagement (India)
Elena Myakotnikova, CEO Advisor of SIBUR (Russia)
Prachi Shevgaonkar, Advisor of Climate Leadership Coalition (Young Climate Changemaker)


