As the eyes of the world have been fixed on Glasgow, discussions of the climate crisis have been heard everywhere, from the local café right up to government and beyond. One thing has been made clear, there needs to be significant change in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and tackle climate change. However, the way that we go about doing this must be just and fair. 9 November was gender day at COP26, putting the focus on how we can do just that.
Reports by the UN have found that women are disproportionately affected by climate change due to the fact that they make up 70% of those living in poverty. Many women are reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods, particularly in terms of agriculture, and bear the responsibility for providing water and energy for cooking and heating the home. However, women are also less often found at the decision-making table and have less access to environmental goods and services compared to men. This means women have less opportunity to take action against the effects of climate change. Women are also more likely to be killed or displaced by climate change, and violence against women increases after climate related incidents. Women of colour are even more affected due to the fact that race and class also play into climate injustices.
JUST TRANSITIONS
When we talk about transitioning to a carbon neutral system and moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy, it is important to look at the justice implications involved. The fossil fuel industry is largely male dominated, with only 22% of employees in the gas and oil industry being female. Women are better represented in the renewable energy sector, which is a start, however there are still gender pay gaps within the renewable industry. With many new green jobs opening up, there is a real opportunity to change the system by meeting gender quotas, closing the pay gap and rewriting misogynistic practices. More women should also be given positions of authority and leadership in terms of environmental decision making, and the gendered impacts of climate change addressed. It is also important to reform women dominated low-carbon industries such as education, healthcare, care work ,and subsistence farming, who often have low rates of pay or are not recognised as workers at all.
Dunja Krause of the UN Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) told attendees at the Green Zone in Glasgow that she believes there to be two main pathways for just transition. The first of which, is to engage labour organisations and trade unions for fossil fuel industries in conversation, even if they are male dominated, as it is important not to alienate anybody and find common ground to ensure a just transition for all. The second route is to prioritise health and social care work on a political level to ensure decent wages and working conditions. It is also important to note that as this is a global problem it will need radical systemic change as well as grassroots movements using the local knowledge of women from all around the world.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION
In order for women to get to positions of power and take on leadership roles it is important that they have equal access to, and opportunity for, education, which is not currently the case. In sub-Saharan Africa, 92% of girls don’t finish school. This is often due to financial constraints on the cost of fees and uniforms; however, climate change is also causing more girls to drop out of school as a result of failing crops and increased hunger and poverty.
CAMFED is a grassroots women’s movement in Africa that helps girls access education. They believe that with an education these girls are the climate leaders of tomorrow. This is particularly the case in rural areas that are heavily reliant on agriculture, as they can develop hybrid approaches of traditional knowledge and new innovations to become more climate-resistant, sustainable and food secure.
Of course, environmental justice for those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis but are the most affected should also be placed at the forefront of any discussion for a just transition, and women and other marginalised groups must not be left behind in the fight.
Laura recently completed her master’s in Human Rights and Environmental Law at Lancaster University and is currently trying to break into the human rights sector. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Conservation, and is passionate about both human rights and environmental protection with a particular interest in the cross-section between the two.