The scientific UN climate body, the
IPCC, has shown that amplifying the voices and influence of marginalised groups—such as Indigenous peoples, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities—has positive effects on climate policy. Similar effects are seen in the field of biodiversity. The
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) states that meaningful participation - real participation and not just idle talk – by women in forest management and biodiversity conservation has a "significant positive effect."
However, inspite of their knowledge, strength and creativity, women and girls in all their diversity often lack proper access to funding to carry out their work. They frequently are not provided a seat at the tables where political decisions are made on climate and biodiversity. And when they do participate, their contributions are often ignored or undervalued. For instance, during the 2023 international climate negotiations (COP28), only
34% of the delegation members and 19% of the heads of a delegation were women.
This also applies to the LGBTQI+ community, Indigenous peoples, and other marginalised groups, such as those living in poverty or with disabilities.
In the worst-case scenario, as many as
158 million more women and girls will fall into poverty due to the climate crisis by the middle of this century. In comparison, the number for men and boys is 16 million less. Ongoing gender inequality is a missed opportunity to address the climate and biodiversity crises effectively and fairly. Women, in all their diversity, contribute with their expertise and local and Indigenous knowledge to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and successful climate solutions. Women in particular from the Global South,play an essential role in activities such as (re)forestation, soil and water management, and pioneering sustainable energy and agriculture. Besides, (Indigenous)women often leadthe resistance against fossil fuel projects and the degradation of ecosystems, at the risk of their own lives.
Read
more here about successful initiatives led by partners of our members from the Global South, showcasing what does and does not work in climate and biodiversity actions.
What WO=MEN does
Together with our members and allies, WO=MEN advocates for just climate and biodiversity policies that explicitly recognise the disproportionate impact on women, men, and gender-nonconforming individuals. We do this by bringing together members working on gender equality, climate, and biodiversity. We closely follow international climate negotiations, with a particular focus on gender equality. We develop joint publications and position papers and strategically use our capacity for coordinated advocacy on these topics - see, for example, the joint
recommendations to the Dutch government for COP29. Additionally, we find it important to reach a broader audience with our message. Therefore, we organise member events on the intersection of climate, biodiversity, and gender equality and actively engage on social media.
Overarching Themes
Within the Gender and Sustainable Economy program, climate and biodiversity are key policy themes. In the program on Sustainable Support for Gender Equality and Women's Rights, we explicitly focus on women environmental human rights defenders. Meanwhile, within Gender, Peace, and Security, we address the impact of the climate and biodiversity crisis on conflict areas. Additionally, climate is a key theme in our Count Me In! partnership, with a specific focus on feminist economic realities.
These themes are specifically addressed in the Gender and Sustainable Economy Working Group. We are also a member of the International Climate Coalition in the Netherlands and actively participate in the international feminist network
Women and Gender Constituency.
