Women leading climate action at COP28

As Greta Thunberg or Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan environmental activist, women are leading the movement for climate and environmental protection on a global scale! In this fight, the next international conference on climate change, COP28 is decisive, which will be held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December. What place does the COP give to female representatives, but also to all women who are on the front line in the fight against climate change?

Since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015this will be the first meeting of States worth mentioning is the monitoring of the commitments made in this text to limit global warming to +1.5°C. The challenge is to limit climate impacts on humans and maintain a livable planet.

Despite this, one point is often overlooked by states participating in these COPs: women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate impacts, compared to men and boys. They are the first to be hit. UN Women speaks of climate change as a factor that multiplies risks for women.

“Climate change is not just an environmental crisis, it is also a sexist crisis that increases existing inequalities and violence against women and girls. Hunger, school dropouts, forced marriages, health consequences… the risks that women and girls run are multiplying. »

Fanny Petitbon, head of advocacy at the NGO CARE France.

COP28: Where are the women?

Despite their position on climate change, women are not sufficiently listened to and represented only 35% of the delegations present at the COP in Egypt last year. This percentage even drops to 20% for heads of government delegations.

The Emirates presidency of COP28 says it wants to improve in terms of women’s representation in delegations and is funding the installation of a women and gender equality pavilion within the convention center that will host the negotiations.

“Every act towards equality in the fight against the climate is an important step forward. Except that the question of the role of women in the fight against climate change should not be confined to a single pavilion. Through their essential contribution to the implementation of climate change adaptation solutions and the protection of natural resources, women deserve their place at the table in climate discussions, on the topics of emissions reduction, adaptation and gender-responsive financing . »

Fanny Petitbon

In the face of climate change, women have a key role

Traditionally, women play a role in protecting and adapting natural resourcesthe resilience of communities in the face of climate change.

“As farmers, we observe climate impacts every day. Today it rains when it shouldn’t. In my community it is the women who take action. They participate in community groups and collective actions, because men do not go there, or very rarely. We are the leaders, we are the producers. »

Virginia Remache, indigenous farmer and ecofeminist in Ecuador

Virginia Remache is president of several local development groups. You have initiated actions to protect natural resources (such as waterways) and implement ecosystem restoration practices, particularly through agroforestry. Virginia Remache is also involved in a CARE project that created the first agroecology school for women in her province.

To make her voice heard, Virginia Remache is now working with local authorities to involve women in policies to fight climate change.

“As leaders, we women continue to move forward, spreading knowledge. We need women to be at the forefront. This is how we continue and teach our children to adapt to the earth, to adapt to the plants we have. »

Virginia Remache

It is time for women to have access to decision-making processes from the local to the international level, but also for them to be financially supported in the development of the solutions they provide.

Investing in women at all levels for more effective sustainable development

The percentage of climate finance that recognizes equality between men and women as an essential objective is only 2.9%. However, Southern countries are leading by example by facilitating women’s access to finance and projects.

“Some governments, particularly those of the Marshall Islands and Vietnam, have led the way by making it easier for women to access finance to implement their projects and by involving them in shaping national climate policies. »

Fanny Petitbon, head of advocacy at CARE France

The glass ceiling needs to be broken in many key areas of the ecological transition. Currently, 75% of directors of private companies in the renewable energy sector they are mensecond investigation of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Local initiatives need to be supported, as in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda where CARE has supported the creation of micro-businesses selling solar lamps and clean ovens. The goal was to enable women to participate in the development of clean energy, reduce health problems related to the use of coal and indoor pollution and limit deforestation.

“Women must be involved and driving forces in the energy transition! »

Mandakini Kaul, World Bank Regional Coordinator for South Asia, at a recent WePOWER conference

This COP28 offers a unique opportunity to highlight and promote the inclusion of women in the global movement towards a more sustainable future. Failure to do so would mean a failure in our commitment to climate justice.