Driving Change for People and the Planet
By Natalie Sifuma
With climate negotiations at peak, there seems to be a progressive trend which may be the symbol of hope for many who have flown out to Dubai for COP28.
The UAE has set a positive example for the leadership needed to address the polycrisis by permitting women a seat at negotiation tables. The country delegation consists of a diverse and inclusive team, with women taking up a commendable 63 percent of the country’s delegation, led by the UAE’s Chief Negotiator, Hana Al Hashimi. This is a commendable improvement from last year’s 38 percent.
Through the participation of Hana and other key members like COP28 High-Level Champion, H.E. Razan AlMubarak, and the UAE’s Minister for Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Miriam Almheiri, the world gets to see just how important the feminine perspective and strategy for climate action is.
On November 21, at the Unite For Climate Solutions Summit opening session, Hana Al Hashimi spoke to this, saying: “Data shows that having greater gender parity and contribution of women across all levels of decision-making improves climate change solutions and policies.” Her words and work were backed by Maria Fernanda Espinosa whose 3-decade experience in international negotiations, peace, security and human rights remains an inspiration to many women climbing the career and leadership ladder. Maria has previously served as President of the United Nations General Assembly, during the 73rd session between 2018 and 2019.
Similarly, H.E. Razan AlMubarak has displayed gentle but firm leadership needed to mobilize action within and beyond grassroots organizations. As High-Level Champion, Razan has tirelessly educated on the importance of nature, and why the protection of these natural resources is a human right. This has been a zenith of her years of work in environmental conservation and sustainability.
While in conversation with SHE Changes Climate Co-Director Elise Buckle at the Summit, Razan emphasized how climate action happens at leadership as well as at grassroots level. “We need to keep the 1.5 within reach, not as a goal, but as a biological and planetary limit. This can only be done by tackling the climate crisis and the nature crisis at the same time — by cutting emissions by half, and with equal rigor, by protecting our carbon sinks and protecting nature.”
The Unite For Climate Solutions served as an unforgettable example of how inclusive spaces, whether virtual or in-person, rally people from all walks of life towards a common goal for the planet.
In a special session on inclusion and diversity facilitated by SHE Changes Climate Co-Director Mamta Borgoyary, Reena Gupta – Climate Advisor to the Government of Delhi spoke about the need to enable diversity at climate talks. “For very long we have not called out the stark reality that women are not being brought to these climate forums. We need to be very vocal about it, otherwise, the status quo is not going to change anytime soon.”
It was through these key discussions and the recommendations that emerged from the Summit that SHE Changes Climate approached our participation at COP28.
Our focus for the first week of COP28 was to identify strategic partnerships with organizations sharing similar values and build on existing networks, leveraging the power of digital media to rally public support and amplify the work of women in climate from the Global South. Through the support of our ambassadors on the ground, we engaged with members of civil society, human and gender rights movement organizations and even government officials, speaking about the need for inclusion and diversity for equitable climate action.
All these culminated in a side event, on December 6, in partnership with Global Choices at the Women and Gender Constituency Pavilion where we hosted a cross-generational dialogue allowing women leaders of all ages to exchange their lived experiences in the journey of weaving a climate resilient future. The space was one of humble resilience, joy and hope for the future, featuring Climate professionals such as Jojo Mehta of Stop Ecocide International, Laura Clark of Client Earth, Joi Lee of Earthrise Studio, and Tishiko King, our SHE Changes Climate Ambassador from Australia.
For the second week, influencing climate policy has been top of mind. SHE Changes Climate would be incomplete without our commitment to changing policy for an equitable future. And so as a first step, on December 8 in partnership with Kite Insights and Women of The World, we successfully convened various stakeholders to further strengthen the message of the climate crisis affecting the whole world and why governments and non-state actors must commit to diverse and inclusive delegations at climate summits and negotiations.
Backed by world and international organization leaders such as Mary Robinson, Dr. David Nabaro, Catherine Stewart and Winifred Masiko, the commitment to equality as well as to phase out fossil fuels was clear. The resounding statement was that we must band together – as women, men, youth, indigenous and marginalized communities – to drastically reduce with the intent of phasing out fossil fuel emissions.
It goes without saying that we are in a determining time, one where we must put aside logos and egos to address the polycrisis; one where we must stand united and balanced for the earth. It is for these reasons that SHE Changes Climate has tirelessly worked to influence policy by calling on state and non state actors to formally endorse our Inclusion and Diversity Principles.
They say later is too late, and so the question to our national, regional and global leaders is: will you be on the right side of history?
