Context:
Join the coalition of gender champions by endorsing the inclusion and diversity principles in climate policy & action
The Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Norway have endorsed as Member States, and the IFRC as a large international organisation.
While women and girls are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, only 15 of the world’s leaders who participated at COP28 were women. The highest number of women delegates to attend COP has been 38%, and since COP1 in 1995, only five women have been appointed as COP Presidents.
We need an inclusive and diverse pool of leaders working together to implement just decisions. The decisions made at the top have a trickle-down effect: what happens upstream at COP affects everyone downstream, as everyone is being affected by climate impacts, in particular women and girls. The more diversity of perspectives and views that are in leading positions, the more likely decisions will be well-rounded and more robust for climate-friendly decisions.
The time to come together is now. Let’s bring a diversity of perspectives. We are stronger together.
Our proposals in particular are:
To ensure and showcase a diverse and gender-balanced representation in your own delegation team attending future COPs and other climate negotiations, ensuring the meaningful participation of all those present;
To open up for diverse voices in your delegation, ensuring, as much as possible and as relevant, the presence of youth and indigenous people;
To promote the appointment of co-chairs (a man and a woman together), at the level of your delegation and for leading the various negotiations tracks;
To mainstream diversity and gender equity in climate finance, including for the Loss & Damage emerging Fund and governance, as well as in the newly updated NDCs following the Global Stock Take.