WUNRN
GENDER & CLIMATE CHANGE: THE PAST – THE PRESENT – THE FUTURE
In 2006, FAO, the UN Food & Agriculture Organization, published a 58-Page text on – GENDER: THE MISSING COMPONENT OF THE RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE. Now, we have read the challenges of our women climate advocates at COP 20, the Sustainable Innovation Forum on Climate Action, and look ahead to continued Sessions of the FCCC, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Women Gender Constituency of the UNFCCC gave an objective analysis of COP 20 - http://www.wunrn.com/news/2014/12_14/12_15/121514_cop_files/COP%2020-Women's%20Press%20Release-Climate%20Change.pdf and noted the launch of the Lima Work Programme on Gender. http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/lima_dec_2014/decisions/application/pdf/auv_cop20_gender.pdf
“Although COP 20 did see the launch of the 'Lima Work Programme on Gender', which aims to advance implementation of gender-responsive climate policies and mandates across all areas of the negotiations, this critical initiative faced challenges as well, with governments trading language on ‘gender equality’ for ‘gender balance.’”
Women Gender Constituency of the FCCC member, Bridget Burns of WEDO stated clearly: “The WGC insists that a fundamental framework of a strong “rights-based” agreement that is focused on climate justice must be the goal for COP 21 to be held in Paris, France, in 2015. Without gender equality, women’s rights, indigenous peoples rights and climate justice, including financing for loss and damage, a rapid transition to safe and renewable energies, massive commitment and emissions reductions by the developed world, and full participation of those most impacted, the programme of work to be done will be
incubated and launched within an empty shell and will do little to support the lives of millions, nor protect the precious ecosystems upon which we depend for our survival.”
So let’s look back to 2006, noting that we are about to enter 2015, and reflect on the FAO publication extracts:
*Gender aspects have been neglected in the climate change negotiations.
*Necessary at the national and international levels is mapping of gender-specific emission profiles, mitigative and adaptive capacity. Mitigation focuses on tackling the very cause of climate change.
*There is a need to document the different energy consumption patterns of both men and women since this is now greatly lacking. (NOTE: The text repeatedly refers to women’s more traditional roles.)
*As natural resource managers, women must be involved in the efforts of anticipating adverse impacts deriving from climate change.
*The aim must include avoiding women taking up a male emissions profile while achieving and adaptive capacity that is as good as the one of the average male….
*Gender considerations should be introduced in the key critical issues on the climate change agenda.
SO, WE AS WOMEN HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN OUR ACTIVISM ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AND ARE A SERIOUS, ARTICULATE PRESENCE AT THE NEGOTIATION SESSIONS. The discourse and wordage has thankfully demanded women’s inclusion, women as agents of change, women as determined players in this complex, divisive, power-driven, poverty insensitive, vested interest dominated, process that must make women’s issues, human rights, and climate justice fundamental in the Climate Change Negotiations & Outcome.
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MARY ROBINSON FOUNDATION – CLIMATE JUSTICE
http://www.mrfcj.org/womens-leadership/
Vital
Importance of Women's Leadership & Engagement for Gender & Climate
Change
Historically climate policy has not addressed the differing ways
in which climate change affects men and women. The Foundation is working to
contribute to the development of gender-informed climate policy. At the international
level this is policy which sets out commitments to address the gender
dimensions of climate change and which provides guidance on how best to do
this.
The Foundation aims to strengthen references to gender and
gender equality and women’s leadership in international policy in order to
facilitate more gender responsive action on the ground. Our work in this area
is guided by our Climate Justice Principle: Highlight
Gender Equality and Equity.
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http://www.mrfcj.org/news/gender-day-cop20.html
"No society can develop - economically, politically or
socially – when half of its population is marginalised." - Mary Robinson,
October 2014
Historically climate policy has not addressed the differing ways
in which climate change affects men and women. The Foundation is
working to contribute to the development of gender-informed climate policy.
Promoting gender balance and improving the participation of
women in the UNFCCC negotiations and in the representation of Parties in bodies
established pursuant to the Convention or the Kyoto Protocol is essential to
ensure climate justice.
Given existing gender inequalities and development gaps, climate
change ultimately places a greater burden on women. Men and women are affected
by climate change in different ways, because the societal and cultural roles
and responsibilities made on them by families and communities. For example,
where women are the primary food producers and providers of water and cooking
fuel for their families, while having greater responsibility for family and
community welfare.
Understanding that climate change impacts on men and women
differently, it is therefore necessary to ensure that we have gender sensitive
climate policies that are informed by women and address the realities of
women’s needs.
Women can and are leading on climate action but they need to be
better represented in climate decision making at all levels.
In October 2014 WEDO released a comprehensive technical guide on
gender and climate change in the negotiations titled United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Decisions and Conclusions: Existing Mandates and Entry Points for Gender
Equality. It highlights a concerning lack of gender balance in
boards and bodies of the UNFCCC. Thanks to Decision 23/CP18, we are now able to
track the make-up of UNFCCC bodies and boards as well as national delegations.
At COP20
/ CMP 10 in Lima women account for 36% of party delegations which is
a 7% increase on last year. While progress has been made in terms of women’s
representation on delegations the same is not true for women’s representation
on boards and bodies of the UNFCCC.
The Foundation’s activities this Gender Day are built around a
number of activities including hosting a meeting of the Troika+ of Women Leaders on Gender and Climate Change.
Mary Robinson will join Christiana Figueres, Executive Director United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Lakshmi Puri, Deputy
Executive Director, UN Women for a discussion on the role of women in
addressing climate change at ‘Momentum for Change: Women for Results’ a UNFCCC
event that will also showcase on-the-ground climate action led by women.
In all activities Mary Robinson will carry the messages of the
women who participated in the Leaders Forum on Gender and Climate Change which
brought together indigenous women, young women, women farmers and community
leaders, women heads of state and government and former heads of state and
government, women in business and academics from 54 nations. Women’s
empowerment, greater participation in decision-making processes, increased
accountability, courage in leadership and the need to integrate human rights
into climate actions are all critical to the realisation of climate justice.