London Climate Action Week brings together global leaders, politicians, businesses, civil society and many more from across the climate community to discuss and advance solutions to the ever-growing climate crisis. The unprecedented heatwave which saw the UN Secretary General declare that ‘London is cooking’ focused minds on the urgency.
I attended events focused on women’s rights and gender equality, and it was clear that the conversation has moved on from why gender equality is central to successful climate action, to how to make it happen. Considering the context of reduced aid budgets and rollbacks on women’s rights around the world, some key themes emerged in the discussions I attended:
Financing the solutions
Ensuring climate finance reaches the women’s rights organisations and women-led businesses who are already responding to climate disasters, adapting to threats and supporting the transition away from fossil fuels is essential – still a tiny fraction of climate finance is directed this way. Feminist funds are delivering finance to grassroots and feminist organisations. In the private sector, CARE US’s new report shows that women-led micro and small enterprises are delivering climate solutions across energy, food, water, waste, care, finance, and digital services, and that there are pathways for climate finance to better reach them.
Supporting anticipatory action
Anticipatory action helps communities prepare for disasters and enables early action before a climate hazard strikes. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) brought us together around new research from the British Red Cross, outlining how the climate crisis is accelerating and intensifying emergencies, and our systems designed to respond to them need to adapt accordingly. CARE International UK is supporting communities to take anticipatory action through our Early Action Fund, which puts women’s needs and participation front and centre in disaster planning and preparedness.
Tackling the root causes of gender inequality for effective climate action
Gender-based violence prevents women and girls from engaging with climate programmes, and restricts their voice and leadership in their communities and in policy making spaces. Effective climate action therefore needs to understand and prevent it. An event led by Social Development Direct, GAGGA, 2X and Womanity discussed how working with women-led organisations and leaders in the local operating context is often the most effective way to do this, as they can advise on where the risks lie and devise strategies to address them.
Ensuring a ‘just’ transition that actively reduces inequalities
The transition to less fossil-fuel dependent economies creates huge economic opportunities but unless we design policies with inclusion in mind, the most marginalised could be left out. Sightsavers highlighted the particular needs of disabled and informal workers, many of whom are women, who need access to social protection, clean energy and decision making.
At the start of the week, GWL Voices presented the latest stark data on gender inequality in climate and environmental leadership, and the discussion moved beyond individual women to resourcing the collective, collaborative action that has seen feminists drive impact from the grassroots to the global decision-making level. Discussions and convenings at London Climate Action Week are one opportunity for this collaboration to continue, and CARE International UK looks forward to being a part of ongoing efforts to ensure women’s rights are central to climate action.
