COP27 Blog: The struggle for gender justice in climate negotiations

By Manal Shehade

This last week at COP27 has been eye-opening, frustrating and inspiring. Most importantly, as we approach the final day and hours it ends with hope.  

As a Palestinian woman, climate justice in my region and in my home goes hand in hand with gender justice and human rights. I see the climate-related impacts on my community, for example, in increased droughts and lack of water. I see how this disproportionally impacts women and girls in our community. The struggle for women’s rights, water rights, land rights, and fundamental human rights are interconnected struggles for justice.   

It’s been eye-opening to see the different sectors, movements, countries and governments navigate a shared but unequal space. It has been exhilarating to engage with youth, Indigenous communities, gender movements, and country negotiating teams. In many spaces we’ve amplified a collective voice that there is no climate justice without gender justice and human rights.  

Yet, in the midst of all of this, there is that feeling of frustration. Outside the negotiating rooms there is a sense of urgency. Civil society is sharing the realities of the climate emergency that is happening now and sharing some of the creative ways that we can mitigate, adapt and fund gender-transformative solutions. Yet this is not reflected in the proposed text where gender continues to be de-prioritised.  

Next week, the world will mark 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, and we will continue our struggle for gender justice. As with Gender Day at COP27, it is important to shine a spotlight on gender, recognising both how far we have come, and how much further we still need to go. But we cannot confine our work for gender to thematic days. We need to see gender mainstreamed into all our work. I am a firm believer in this. 

We have the right to be a part of all decision-making processes. We are not victims; we are leading climate solutions and just transitions within and beyond movements and industries. We build on the gender movements that have gone before us, and the battles that have already been won for women’s rights, but the fight for equal rights and equal representation is far from over. 

Despite my frustration, I remain hopeful. At COP27 I saw women at the negotiating tables, and leading media actions and side events. I saw younger generations of women from all walks of life come together to remind the world that decisions cannot be taken without them. No true change can occur without women and girls being part of the solution.  

Manal Shehade chairs ACT’s Middle East Gender Justice working group and is an active member of the Middle East Climate Justice working group. As programme officer for ACT members DanChurchAid and Norwegian Church Aid in Palestine, her work on humanitarian aid and gender is underpinned by a passion for climate justice. She is Palestinian and lives in Jerusalem and has previously worked internationally on peace and conflict management.

 

Press release: Faith leaders urgently call for increased ambition in closing days of COP27

November 17, 2022

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

Faith leaders from around the world at COP27 have watched with concern as the negotiations have stalled and not pushed for more ambition to prevent the drastic consequences predicted if global temperature rise goes past 1.5C, to support the most vulnerable communities and nations facing the brunt of climate change’s impacts today, and to ensure that human rights, a gender lens, and indigenous people’s knowledge are enshrined in the structures and work of the UNFCCC and its parties as they confront the climate emergency. 

Faith leaders have issued today an urgent call for increased ambition in the final days of COP27.

“While negotiations stall, people are dying and livelihoods are being lost as a result of the impact  of climate change,” the statement reads. “Time is running out and it is unacceptable if world leaders do not take clear and decisive action within the few remaining days of COP 27.”

The faith leaders, drawing on the call from the Interfaith Talanoa dialogue at the beginning of COP, the faith leaders are calling on leaders at COP27 to preserve all of God’s Creation by:

  • Recognizing the urgency of the crisis
  • Establishing a new funding facility for Loss and Damage
  • Richer countries meeting their commitment to $100bn annually for adaptation and mitigation
  • Wealthy countries canceling debt, provide adequate new finance, and a L&D facility
  • Ensuring gender is not siloed but a clear gender transformative climate action lens be applied in all climate work 

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Media contact:
Simon Chambers, WhatsApp +1-416-435-0972

COP27 must deliver a loss and damage finance facility

ACT Alliance, Lutheran World Federation, Christian Aid and other groups engage in a media action calling for climate finance at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on November 10, 2022. Photo: Simon Chambers/ACT

The stakes for Loss and Damage have never been so high at a COP. Even before it started, negotiators spent hours into the night to agree on the agenda. For the first time loss and damage finance became a formal item on its own right due to huge, concerted effort from vulnerable countries with a strong support from civil society.

But this was not a reason to celebrate, especially as it calls for a decision to be made no later than 2024. It was the beginning of the work, not its end. Action on loss and damage is urgent and long overdue. Loss and damage is the litmus test of COP27.

ACT Alliance, together with the faith community and other allies have been working hard calling world leaders in Sharm El Sheik to ensure that a decision by the end of this COP is reached to establish a financial mechanism for loss and damage. It doesn’t matter what it is called – whether a facility or a fund – as long as it serves the purpose of ensuring that funding is provided and availed to communities suffering climate induced loss and damage.

We stand behind the calls from developing countries who have been united under the G77 and China who since COP26 in Glasgow have been calling for the establishment of a loss and damage finance facility under the UNFCCC.

Loss and Damage is at the heart of climate justice. A funding mechanism is essential to mobilize L&D finance, in line with a climate justice-oriented approach. Loss and damage funding must be new and additional to existing commitments, needs based, predictable and adequate, responding to the needs of the most vulnerable who are the most affected by L&D.

It will take real courage and leadership from the negotiating parties – and specifically the developed countries. As the ministers engage on this issue, the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and their developed counterparts must listen to the urgent demands from vulnerable countries.

Loss and Damage is the litmus text for COP 27, world leaders must deliver on it.

Mariana Paoli is the Global Advocacy Lead with ACT member Christian Aid.

Faith leaders urgently call for increased ambition at COP27

ACT, LWF, Christian Aid and other faith groups held a media action at COP27 calling for gender justice to be mainstreamed in climate justice work, recognizing the impacts of climate change on women and girls in all their diversity and demanding their voices be heard and seats at the tables at all levels of climate change decision making. Photo: Simon Chambers/ACT

Faith leaders from around the world are among the thousands of civil society members at COP27, the UN climate conference, taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.  They have watched with concern as the negotiations have stalled and not pushed for more ambition to prevent the drastic consequences predicted if global temperature rise goes past 1.5C, to support the most vulnerable communities and nations facing the brunt of climate change’s impacts today, and to ensure that human rights, a gender lens, and indigenous people’s knowledge are enshrined in the structures and work of the UNFCCC and its parties as they confront the climate emergency. 

Faith leaders have issued today an urgent call for increased ambition in the final days of COP27.

“While negotiations stall, people are dying and livelihoods are being lost as a result of the impact  of climate change,” the statement reads. “Time is running out and it is unacceptable if world leaders do not take clear and decisive action within the few remaining days of COP 27.”

The faith leaders, drawing on the call from the Interfaith Talanoa dialogue at the beginning of COP, the faith leaders are calling on leaders at COP27 to preserve all of God’s Creation by:

  • Recognizing the urgency of the crisis
  • Establishing a new funding facility for Loss and Damage
  • Richer countries meeting their commitment to $100bn annually for adaptation and mitigation
  • Wealthy countries canceling debt, provide adequate new finance, and a L&D facility
  • Ensuring gender is not siloed but a clear gender transformative climate action lens be applied in all climate work 

Read the full call here.

COP27 Interview: Latin American community solutions offer hope

Solutions such as planting trees improve the environment and give communities hope. “They are achieving important things and know that improvements are possible,” says Romario Dohmann. PHOTO: Hora de Obrar/ACT

Romario Dohmann, ecological coordinator for ACT member Hora de Obrar of Argentina attended the first week of COP27 as an ACT Alliance delegate. In an interview with ACT intern Pablo Sagrado Martin, he described Hora de Obrar’s ecological project the Pastoral Promotion for Care of Creation and the importance of local action addressing climate change.  

The project, which ran from 2016 until 2019, worked with selected communities in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It used theological reflection to encourage communities of faith to care for our common home, Earth, through innovations such as organic growing practices and fair trade.  

A changing climate 

“Local communities are experiencing the effects of climate change in their own flesh,” says Romario.  There have been deep droughts in the southern cone over the last few years. The region’s large rivers have historic low water levels, and there is a water crisis. In summer wildfires affect forests and fields.  

“Some communities have had to adapt by changing their planting dates,” says Romario. “But we have also seen that when we increase trees and use alternative agricultural production methods there is more resilience to the changing climate.” 

Encourages alternatives 

“The project developed to encourage alternatives to growing monocultures such as soy and depending on extractives for income,” says Romario. Such practices can damage soil and water and interfere with the production of nutritious food for local communities. “This met with resistance, as many local agricultural producers were exclusively dedicated to monocultures,” he says. 

The project turned to theology to involve the communities, referencing ecotheology and ecological church policy. “We offered biblical reflection on the care of creation and how it could help communities live better,” says Romario. [They also developed materials for use in catechesis with children and in theological reflection with adults.] 

Community members visited others that practice alternative agroecological production. “This helped people feel more comfortable working with agricultural technicians as they transitioned to a more sustainable type of agriculture,” says Romario. 

The websites of both Hora de Obrar and the Evangelical Church of Rio de la Plata offer supportive material.   

Results include Commission for the Care of Creation 

The Commission for the Care of Creation grew out of the project and includes members from different districts, in particular women. “Seventy percent of the members of the Commission are women. They also make up 95 percent of those who educate communities,” says Romario.  
They are also the ones who are most active in workshops about healthy eating and the impact of environmental issues on health. 

“Communities can now assess how they produce food. The goal is universal access to healthy food through fair trade, based on theological and ethical perspectives,” says Romario. 

“We were able to generate and accompany changes in environmental public policies in Misiones. A government platform of organic production was formed, with the mission to accompany producers who deliver healthy food,” says Romario of the Commission.  “The role of civil society is sometimes to be where the state cannot be present and promote these types of initiatives.” 

To COP27 decision makers: local solutions offer hope 

“Local communities are engaged in concrete actions that may not have a big impact globally,” says Romario, “but are essential for them, as they are coming up with solutions.”  Recently, money from the Green Climate Fund has arrived in Argentina. In Misiones, Romario’s region in northern Argentina, the funds are earmarked for recovery from fires, water shortages, for emergency funds, early warning systems and to improve water access for rural populations.  

“Highlighting local actions offers hope,” says Romario. “The communities want to communicate the message of hope. They are achieving important things and know that improvements are possible.” 

“They have a message of hope, but decisions must be made now, there is no time to spare.” 

Pablo Sagrado Martin is an ACT intern based in ACT’s Brussels office.

 

 

 

A phase out of fossil fuels must be combined with scaled up climate finance for a just transition

All around the world, people are marching, they are chanting, advocating, demanding that world leaders do what it takes to Keep 1.5 alive. Negotiators at COP27 must heed those demands. 

ACT Alliance, a global network of 147 churches and agencies doing humanitarian response, development and advocacy work in over 125 countries, is on the front lines of vulnerable communities who have done the least to cause climate change yet face the worst of its impacts. 

“Even with global temperature rise at 1.2, the world is seeing more frequent and severe climate-induced disasters- droughts, storms, and more,” says Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, general secretary of ACT Alliance. “ACT members support communities in preparing for, surviving, and recovering from such events.  We know the challenges.  And the need of local communities.”

And the world needs action.  Now.  To make sure global temperature will not increase above 1.5C.

“A climate summit that gives up on 1.5 will be a failure,” says Mattias Söderberg, chair of the ACT climate justice group. “Just seven years ago in Paris, we committed to strive for 1.5.  But each year we delay, we stall, we avoid, and the time horizon for urgent action shrinks each day.”

A big step towards achieving 1.5 would be to keep fossil fuels in the ground.  While we desire a phase out of fossil fuels, ACT supports the reality at COP27 as  some parties rally behind the idea of “phasing down all fossil fuels.” A phase down is one  step closer to what is needed- phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to renewables, but Söderberg notes,””Such a phase down will not be possible without commitments from developed countries to support developing ones to phase down fossil fuels.“

Many countries depend on income from fossil fuels, and a transition away from fossil fuels will thus have big impact on the economies.Global transformations are needed to keep 1.5 alive. Phasing down- and ideally phasing  out-  fossil fuels to keep 1.5 alive must be complimented by adequate finance commitments to support just transition in developing countries. 

Bueno de Faria concludes, “We would like to see a COP27 outcome including commitment to the phase out of all fossil fuels.  It should be accompanied by an equal commitment from developed nations to mobilise the needed finance to make it possible.  This will be a big step towards keeping 1.5 alive, and meeting the needs of the most vulnerable, including women and girls, who daily face the consequences of inaction on climate change.”

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Media contact:
Simon Chambers WhatsApp: +1-416-435-0972 simon.chambers@actalliance.org

Call from voices of faith around the world to COP27

15 November 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Call from voices of faith around the world to COP27

People of faith present at COP27 and around the world joined together on November 6 for a Talanoa dialogue, discussing a variety of aspects of climate justice and their call for progress in the negotiations at COP27. Representatives of faith groups, including youth, indigenous, and voices from around the world, will share key aspects of the Talanoa. Participants at COP from faith backgrounds bring the experiences of communities on the front lines of the climate emergency, they bring a moral dimension to the debate, and they also bring technical expertise through their engagement in combatting climate change and in climate justice advocacy

84% of the world’s population ascribe to a faith tradition, and faith communities are part of all communities in the world.  They work as part of these communities together with local leaders and communities to address the impacts of climate change.  The Interfaith Liaison Committee brings together faith constituencies working to achieve climate justice to raise their voices together and share their stories from their traditions and experiences around the world.

What: People of faith representing a range of faith traditions, countries, ages, and gender share calls from the 100+ people of faith who took part in the Talanoa dialogue on Nov 6, 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Who: Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California (USA)
Ms. Maureen Goodman, Brahma Kumaris representative to the United Nations (UK)
Ms. Kata Kuhnert, Lutheran youth (Canada)
Imam  Saffet Abid Catovic, ISNA Office for Interfaith and Community Alliance and Government Relations (USA)

Rev. Henrik Grape, Senior advisor on Care for Creation, Sustainability, and Climate Justice for the World Council of Churches – Moderator

Where: Press conference room (Luxor) and online

 When: Tuesday, November 15, 2022 16h30-17h00

Why: Faith communities bring concrete experiences of the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable people, including women and girls in all their diversity and people on the move, who have done the least to cause climate change and are facing the brunt of its impacts. Faith groups are on the front lines, responding to climate change through mitigation, disaster risk reduction, adaptation, and more.

# # # # #

MEDIA CONTACT
Simon Chambers +1-416-435-0972, simon.chambers@actalliance.org
Head of Communications, ACT Alliance

New Multi-Faith/Multi-Sector Alliance for Climate Action (MFSA) to launch at COP27  

An innovative new alliance, the Multi-Faith/Multi-Sector Alliance for Climate Action (MFSA) will be formally launched at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh this Wednesday, November

ACT stunt drawing attention to gender justice asks at COP27. Photo: Albin Hillert/LWF.

16 at 14:00 Cairo time. For those at COP27, the event is at the IFRC Pavilion- Blue zone (beside UNFCCC and Egypt Pavilion). Those at a distance can join online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHKbYD_TtmM 

The Alliance will be a neutral bridge between existing multi-faith actors and their coalitions, and key secular actors (including governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, civil society organizations, and media). The goal is to explore and advance collaboration on specific areas for climate action. It is not intended to replace existing networks and coalitions, but rather to elevate and add value to existing initiatives. 

MFSA will bring together key groups with specific projects which need support and engagement.  Its strength will come from the diversity of events, projects and leadership it brings together. The expectation is that different groups will offer different foci for discussion, meetings, partnerships and practical projects. 

MFSA will amplify ongoing secular initiatives by engaging faith networks in the following ways:  

  • Systematically engaging faith-related media on climate issues 
  • Framing and publicising the values parameters of investment funds to leverage public capital with the assets of religious institutions
  • Supporting the Global Energy Access Initiative by engaging faith networks through a faith sensitive communications campaign
  • Supporting the mobilisation of women and youth leaders in achieving carbon emissions goals through by engaging women faith leaders and their networks.

MFSA is currently engaged in the following projects:  

  • A Faith-based Just Climate Transition Fund led by FaithInvest in collaboration with the Climate Investment Funds of the World Bank,  
  • A Clean Energy Access communications and advocacy campaign led by Global Alliance for Clean Energy Access, Greenfaith and Faith for Earth,  
  • Project Dandelion, a Women and Youth led global campaign to meet the carbon emissions target, led by Mary Robinson, with Religions for Peace Women of Faith Network 
  • A fourth project, a unique cross-cutting programme actively researching the huge reach of faith-based media is also underway. 

Speakers at the launch will include: 

Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance  

Ms. Pacifica F. Achieng Ogola, Government of Kenya  

Ms. Jean Duff, Partnership for Faith and Development (video) 

Ms. Amanda Burrell, Al Jazeera  (video)

Prof. Dr. Azza Karam, Religions for Peace  

Rev. James Bhagwan, Pacific Conference of Churches (video) 

The following speakers will address the Alliance’s current initiatives:  

Faith-based Just Climate Transition Fund  

Ms. Mafalda Duarte, Climate Investment Funds, World Bank 

Mr. Martin Palmer, FaithInvest  

Joint Clean Energy Access Communications and Advocacy Campaign 

Ms. Sandae,  Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, the Rockefeller Foundation 

Rev. Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith 

Women and Youth led Global Campaign to Meet the Carbon Emissions Target  

Ms. Mary Robinson, Climate Justice Institute 

Mr. Iyad Abumoghli of the UN Environment Programme will give the closing remarks.   

 

 

Press release: Launch of the Multi-Faith/Multi-Sector Alliance for Climate Action (MFSA) at COP27

November 15, 2022

Launch: the Multi-Faith/Multi-Sector Alliance for Climate Action (MFSA). 

Please join us for the formal launch of an innovative new alliance, the Multi-Faith/Multi-Sector Alliance for Climate Action (MFSA). 

The alliance will be a neutral bridge between existing multi-faith actors and their coalitions, and key secular actors (including governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, civil society organizations, and media).

When: Wednesday, November 16 14h00 (Cairo time)

Where: IFRC Pavilion- Blue zone (beside UNFCCC and Egypt Pavilion) COP27, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.  Online on Youtube: Multi-faith/Multisector Alliance for Climate Action at COP27 

Refreshments.

Interviews can be made available with:

  • Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary, ACT Alliance

MEDIA CONTACT: Simon Chambers, ACT Alliance, WhatsApp: +1-416-435-0972 or simon.chambers@actalliance.org

A long way to go at COP27

COP27 has reached its halfway point, and there is a long way to go if this conference is to conclude with strong steps forward for climate justice.

“We must not get distracted by technical and procedural discussions,” said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria. “The parties must keep the needs of the most vulnerable people, including women and girls in all their diversity, indigenous people, and those in developing nations, at the forefront of their negotiations, and the decisions of this COP must provide the finance, voice, and seats at the table for them.”

ACT Alliance is a faith-based organization, and like all faith groups, ACT’s members are present in communities before, during and after disasters, including climate-induced ones.  “Churches and other communities of faith are best placed to know the situation and to be first responders,” said Mattias Soderberg, co-chair of ACT Alliance’s Climate Working Group. “As integral parts of the communities where we work, we know that all people are part of their communities, including youth, women, and indigenous people. Climate resilience requires communities too, and those communities must include the voices of all.”

ACT Alliance notes that there is not enough progress in many workstreams. 

Mitigation- keep your eye on the prize

 A strong, climate justice focused result on mitigation must keep focused on the need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C.  To achieve this, we must think outside the box, looking at economy-wide emissions cuts, nature-based solutions, locally led processes, and other innovative methods as work to enhance mitigation ambition. We must not allow backtracking of progress so far to keep 1.5 alive, but ensure we keep the bar within reach.

Article 6- human rights at the centre

 Human rights, gender responsive text, and the inclusion of indigenous peoples in the processes are necessary to a good result on Article 6.  In addition, mechanisms must be transparent and clear, avoiding double counting or inclusion of false solutions.

Gender- a weak tea so far

 The text on gender is weak language to date.  States are “encouraged” rather than “urged,”, and the strongest commitments are listed as “voluntary.”  The language must be stronger! It is important that finance is availed to strengthen gender responsiveness in climate action.

“Women and girls did not volunteer to be more impacted by climate emergencies. We want to see their involvement in all levels of leadership and decision-making processes for climate actions”, said Margareta Koltai, policy adviser from Act Church of Sweden.

Adaptation- missing in inaction?

 COP27 was touted as an adaptation and implementation COP, but there has been very little movement on either topic.  The decision to double adaptation funding made at COP26 in Glasgow is a good one, but the question remains of who is benefiting from the funds.  We need good quality adaptation finance flows, with grants rather than loans, and where funds reach the people who need them most: the vulnerable people who have done the least to cause climate change yet face the worst of its impacts.

Finance- 17 billion short and counting

 While we applaud the decision to double adaptation finance, we underscore the importance of funding being new and additional, not being drawn from other incredibly important work, including humanitarian response and ODA.  We call on developed nations to meet their commitment to 100 billion dollars per year, not the 83 billion that Canada and Germany reported in week 1. And we know that the majority of  these billions are loans that much be paid back, and most of the funds are taken from existing aid budgets, leaving less funds for projects supporting education, healthcare and democracy.

“We know that the needs for adaptation and loss and damage will continue to grow, and that 100 billion is not nearly enough,” said Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, Special Envoy for Climate Change of ACT Alliance. “People and communities are impacted by climate induced disasters every day, and support must be available to communities to adapt and recover.”

Loss and Damage- stepping stones to a solution

ACT is pleased that loss and damage was included in the agenda for COP27, but having it on the agenda is not enough.  COP27 must agree to the need for loss and damage finance- new and additional financing, in the form of grants, not loans Once COP27 agrees to the need for finance, work can continue towards COP28.

From deliberation to action

“As we start the second week, we remind our political leadership that we are at a tipping point,” said Julius Mbatia, global climate justice program manager at ACT Alliance. This year’s global climate talks must set decisions that facilitate implementation to secure our planet and the lives of those vulnerable to climate impacts. We need no more failed commitments, shifting blame and burden. It is time we repurpose this process from deliberations to action.”

Media contact

Simon Chambers WhatsApp: +1-416-435-0972 simon.chambers@actalliance.org

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