SHE Changes Climate Statement on COP29: A Call to End the Farce
25th November 2024
COP29 has failed to deliver on its promises, once again. It is time to call off this charade that consistently falls short of the urgency that the climate crisis demands. Instead of bold action, we are left with yet another empty gesture: a $300 billion commitment from developed countries, a paltry sum given the scale of the crisis and the needs of frontline communities. We commend the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC) and WEDO for holding the line and their fierce determination in securing a ten-year extension of the LIMA Work Programme on Gender. However, we also share a common frustration that greater progress was not achieved, as it seems we are regressing rather than advancing.
This outcome is not just a disappointment; it is a profound insult to the tireless advocates who have fought for justice and to the countless lives already lost and devastated by the relentless impacts of climate change. We are witnessing a cycle of empty promises and a complete disregard for those whose futures hang in the balance.
What Has to Change
The systemic flaws at the heart of COP29 cannot be ignored any longer. The monopolization of power and resources by a handful of nations and corporations has rendered these negotiations impotent. True climate action requires dismantling this power imbalance, starting with the most glaring gaps in representation and accountability:
1. Representation of Women in Decision-Making: Of the 78 Heads of State who attended COP29, only 8 were women—a shocking statistic that underscores the persistent gender imbalance in global leadership. In national delegations, the participation of women has stagnated at around 20% for years. This is not just an oversight; it is a systemic failure. Gender must be at the core of climate finance planning and national accountability, not an afterthought or token discussion. We call for binding commitments to ensure gender parity in national delegations, with countries held accountable for meeting these targets.
2. Inclusivity in Negotiations: The COP negotiation process is broken. Closed-door meetings and last-minute changes highlight a disturbing trend of exclusion and elitism, sidelining the voices of those who are most affected by climate change. This has further been compounded by significant backlash and controversy surrounding gender issues during COP discussions. The process must become truly inclusive, with transparent decision-making and meaningful participation from Indigenous peoples, grassroots communities, youth, and women’s organizations.
3. Location Matters: Choosing where COPs are hosted is a political act. Holding these crucial discussions in countries dominated by oil and gas economies is counterproductive and undermines the credibility of the entire process. COPs should be hosted in countries with a demonstrated commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels and prioritizing human security over corporate profits. This will send a clear message that the focus is on people, not business deals.
4. Climate Finance Must Be People-Centered: The negotiations around climate finance have become farcical, with pledges that rarely translate into tangible support for those who need it most. Funds are not trickling down to the communities who face the brunt of climate impacts. We need accountability mechanisms that track not only the amount of climate finance but also who benefits from it. Financing needs to prioritize adaptation, resilience, and local capacity-building, not just mitigation projects that serve the interests of wealthy nations and corporations.
5. Systemic Transformation Over Incremental Change: COP29 has shown that the current system is geared towards preserving the status quo. We need a radical shift that goes beyond pledges and promises. This includes restructuring global financial systems to ensure debt relief for vulnerable nations, recognizing loss and damage as a core agenda, and dismantling fossil fuel subsidies that perpetuate environmental degradation and human rights abuses. Moreover, addressing the climate finance gap requires placing greater emphasis on the role of the private sector and implementing fair taxation on the super-rich to mobilize resources urgently needed for climate action.
6. From Business Deals to Climate Justice: COP has become a stage for business interests, not a forum for genuine climate action. The influence of fossil fuel industries and corporate lobbyists has compromised the integrity of the negotiations. We need stricter rules on conflicts of interest and a commitment to centering human rights and justice in all climate discussions.
The Urgency of Now
Time is running out. Communities around the world are living in the reality of the climate emergency—facing floods, droughts, heatwaves, and displacement. This is not a future scenario; it is happening now. COP must transform from a place of negotiation to a space of accountability and justice, a place where voices of the most affected are elevated and decisions are made with their realities in mind. Anything less is a betrayal.
We at SHE Changes Climate stand with those who continue to push for justice and call on leaders to move beyond symbolic gestures. The world doesn’t need another COP like this one. We need a process that is fit for purpose, responsive to the scale of the crisis, and inclusive of those who have been left out for far too long.
The time for transformation is now. If COP cannot rise to this challenge, it will cease to be relevant. Climate justice can no longer be a distant promise; it must be the standard by which we measure every decision made on the world stage.