The Gender Disparity in Environmental Solutions: A Call for Inclusive Action
The United Nations has pledged to channel $300 billion annually into emerging economies until 2035 in an effort to combat the pervasive issue of climate change. This funding, however, may serve more as a temporary fix rather than a comprehensive solution to the ongoing environmental crisis.
The approach taken by U.N. Conferences of Parties (COP) focuses heavily on renewable energy sources. However, a more enduring strategy could involve ecological solutions that leverage natural systems instead of simply developing new technologies to address climate issues.
This November marks the 30th consecutive COP meeting, taking place in Belém, Brazil, where global leaders will once again gather to address the climate crisis.
“This [green transition] sounds like a remix of colonialism,” stated Ayshka Najib, a climate activist from Dubai, emphasizing the need for transitions that are inclusive, equitable, and sustainable.
In preparation for this pivotal COP30 meeting, the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) convened a panel comprising over 100 experts from 50 countries. The discussions underscored the necessity of shifting from technology-focused solutions to those that prioritize ecological integrity and the protection of vulnerable populations.
“We know what works,” said WECAN’s founder Osprey Orielle Lake. “It’s about regenerative movements that feed families and uphold climate reparations and care-based economies rather than corporate greenwashing.”
Understanding the Green Transition
WECAN aims to amplify women’s voices in climate action, highlighting that only eight out of the 78 leaders present at COP29 were women. This gender disparity results in critical viewpoints remaining unheard, especially those of women who face the brunt of climate disasters.
- Women are statistically 14 times more likely to perish in climate-related disasters than men.
- During heat waves, rates of femicide can rise by 28%.
The unequal representation of women in climate discussions perpetuates a cycle where those most affected, particularly women and Indigenous communities, are systematically marginalized. Economic inequalities and societal norms render women particularly susceptible to the challenges posed by climate change, including food scarcity, violence, and displacement.
While the green transition advocates for renewable energy and sustainable business practices, there are stark immediate consequences. For instance, Sȧmi activist Elle Rávdná Näkkäläjärvi has spoken out against the environmental degradation caused by copper mining and wind turbine installations in Norway, which threaten her community’s reindeer populations.
Näkkäläjärvi notes that, while copper mining is essential for producing renewable energy technologies, it wreaks havoc on Indigenous lands and communities. “This case illustrates the persistent colonial dispossession affecting Sȧmi lands,” she explained, emphasizing the unsustainable nature of such practices.
“The green shift is a façade that masks the true destructiveness of extraction,” she continued, as the impacts of these so-called solutions contribute to pollution and loss of biodiversity.
The Need for a Just Transition
The current green transition often fails to completely eliminate reliance on fossil fuels, instead propagating conditions that perpetuate extractive working environments. Mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, are critical for obtaining metals like cobalt necessary for lithium-ion batteries.
Susana Muhamad, former environment minister of Colombia, highlighted the unsustainable cycle of extraction by the Global North from the Global South, indicating it cannot continue if we are to make genuine progress toward sustainability.
Women, who perform nearly 708 million hours of unpaid care work globally, find their roles increasingly demanding as climate issues exacerbate living conditions. This vital work often goes unrecognized, yet its monetary value is estimated at $11 trillion, according to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“We cannot transition from one exploitative economy to another,” Najib emphasized, calling for an equitable approach that recognizes the significance of unpaid care work.
Discussion of just transitions stretches back to 1980, merging environmental considerations with gender equity. Although recent climate plans are starting to integrate gender-focused principles, there is still a long way to go.
Looking Forward to COP30
André Aranha Correa do Lago, the president of COP30, recently issued a call for an equitable energy transition. His agenda includes six essential focus areas, including transitioning energy sources and nurturing social development.
However, gender considerations remain minimally addressed within this framework. Activists like Rita Uwaka advocate for more female representation in governance as a key to addressing gender-specific climate issues.
“Community management of forests and agroecological initiatives must be promoted to successfully mitigate the climate crisis,” Uwaka noted.
As the world takes steps to combat climate change, it is crucial to recognize the high costs borne by women, particularly those from marginalized communities. A green transition must encompass true equity, as reflected in Lake’s assertion that, “Women and girls are being pushed to the front lines of a crisis they did not start,” connecting climate injustice to historical patterns of colonialism and exploitation.
