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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.