In brief
The COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan is facing roadblocks as the Vatican aligns with several conservative nations to prevent discussions on gender rights, particularly affecting women's support in combatting climate change. This decision has raised concerns regarding a potential rollback of rights and representation for women, who comprise a significant portion of those impacted by environmental crises.
The Vatican’s Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has been attending the UN COP29 climate conference as Pope Francis' representative. Yet significant friction has emerged as it has sided with countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and Egypt to obstruct agreements aimed at increasing support for women disproportionately affected by climate change.Colombia’s Environment Minister Susana Muhamad told the BBC that the stalling of discussions over the incorporation of gender references into climate agreements is unacceptable. Advocacy groups like ActionAid highlight that women and girls currently represent 80% of those displaced due to climate change, and a comprehensive deal focusing on their needs is essential.The stalled discussions were intended to update the Lima Work Programme on Gender, an initiative that has been in place for a decade. The Vatican and its allies are firm against the inclusion of the term "gender," fearing it would encompass transgender and gay women, thereby hindering progress made thus far.Numerous global leaders recognize that women bear the brunt of climate impacts due to their roles in families and communities, which has raised calls for adequate financial resources directed towards gender-specific climate solutions. Women are projected to face food insecurity at a higher rate than men due to climate fluctuations, with current global investment insufficient to match this challenge.The proposal put forth sought to acknowledge that women's experiences with climate change vary based on an array of demographic factors—yet the objections from the Vatican-led coalition hinder this vital discussion. Observers in the negotiating rooms expressed shock at the Vatican's newfound resistance, seeing it as part of a broad global backlash against both women's and LGBTQ+ rights.The upcoming expiration of the existing UN gender program adds urgency to the situation. As the conference drags on without resolution, there is growing apprehension regarding the fate of women's rights in climate negotiations, particularly as representation and voices of women in these discussions remain limited. An EU-led letter reiterates that combating climate change necessitates the empowerment of women in all their diversity, a sentiment not reflected in the ongoing negotiations.In light of these developments, the future of robust support mechanisms for women amidst climate crises hangs in the balance, prompting calls from civil society to reaffirm their rights and ensure inclusive decision-making processes.
