The letter highlights that according to research by the Gender Action Plan – to which the British Government signed up to at last year’s UN climate conference – women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change. They also have critical roles in the family and community when it comes to climate action. Therefore, their input is vital.
‘The COP26 Presidency is a test of the UK’s commitment to gender equality,’ Malini Mehra, GLOBE International CEO, says of the gender disparity. ‘Women are half the population and must be half the top table.
‘This is well understood by the public and expected by the global climate community. Right now the UK is failing the political leadership test and sending the wrong signal. The government must act now to ensure equal representation in COP26 decision-making.’
Dr Mya-Rose Craig (aka Birdgirl) added: ‘We will not succeed in tackling the climate crisis without women’s inclusion. We can and must have a gender-balanced team to be effective and successful.’
Other signatories of the campaign include Caroline Lucas MP, Google Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt, activist Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah and Nobel Peace laureate Jody Williams.
Members of the public can also get involved in supporting the campaign, by using #SHEChangesClimate on social media. The campaign comes ahead of The Climate Action Summit on 12 December, which will mark the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
This article originally appeared on marie claire U.K.
