Q&A with Christiana Figueres on women and climate change
On 8 March, International Women's Day, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres hosted a Twitter chat to talk about how women can build momentum for stronger climate action. Here are the highlights
- The chat began with a discussion about how specifically women are impacted by climate change and why they have a special role to play
@CFigueres What do you mean that #climatechange makes women vulnerable? Is it because of agriculture issues or an another issue? #m4c
Does #climatechange negatively impact economic growth, and thus women's empowerment, the same way in least developed countries? #m4c- Some chat participants asked about what women could do to bring about change. Christiana had a couple of suggestions:
.@LauraDzelzyte Get involved! Solutions to #climatechange rely on women’s will, skills and experience #m4c- @GreenAfricaDir @UN_ClimateTalksEducating & empowering women is key to achieving truly sustainable development #m4c
- @Ulrike_LIFE commented that that whilst empowering women is important, so is gender-responsive climate policy. Christiana couldn't agree more
- @LauraDzelzyte noted that if there would be more women in the UNFCCC negotiations, the world would perhaps achieve faster agreement. Christiana pointed out that the role of women is meanwhile formally anchored in the negotiations
- And then there was a question about action at the sub-national level
@Cfigueres % of women leaders at the local level may be more than at the national, why not integrating them more actively in climate regime?- Several participants drew attention to the gender-related initiatives they are involved in, and which deserve to be recognized
@cfigueres Women r agents 4 change. They encourage their children to recycle milk Tetra Pak In2 School Desks #m4c http://pic.twitter.com/S5eLNnQ6DW
@CFigueres I work in biobased economy and sustainable energy in NL, discipline too much fun to leave it to men only #m4c #8maart3000
@CFigueres #M4C #UK climate funds supporting Kenyan Climate Innovation Centre creating 1000s of green jobs for women tinyurl.com/bd39ma3- Wrapping up the chat, Christiana beat the drum for the latest round of the UNFCCC secretariat's Momentum for Change Initiative, which specifically recognizes the role of gender
- 2013 Momentum for Change lighthouse activities to be recognized at COP 19 in Warsaw! Apply here: ow.ly/iwi36 #m4c
- Remember!Call for applications for Women for Results opens today,closes 26 April! Make sure to apply here: ow.ly/iwi36 #m4c
