The climate emergency is an existential risk to the planet, and it is already affecting every corner of the world. Climate change is a risk multiplier meaning that it interacts with and compounds existing risks and pressures in any given context, and can increase the likelihood of instability or violent conflict. Those least responsible, especially women and girls in fragile and conflict affected states, are affected most. Indeed, every year the world gathers for a COP but transformative inclusion of gender in climate action remains lacking. In this episode we bring together the WPS agenda and climate action by speaking to Payvand Seyedali, Afghanistan Country Director at Women for Women International and Esther Hodges, Senior Gender Adviser at Conciliation Resources. Both draw from recent publications that not only make clear how the climate emergency impacts women and girls, but that women and girls are critical experts in ensuring effective, affordable and sustainable climate action. The conversation is chaired by GAPS team members Eva Tabbasam and Detmer Kremer.

Sources

Conciliation Resources: Gender, cultural identity, conflict and climate change: https://www.c-r.org/learning-hub/gender-cultural-identity-conflict-and-climate-change

Gender Action for Peace and Security, Conciliation Resources: Beyond Feminist Foreign Policy: Climate Change: https://gaps-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Climate-change-4.pdf

Gender Action for Peace and Security: Defending the Future: Gender, Conflict and Environmental Peace: https://gaps-uk.org/policy-brief-defending-the-future-gender-conflict-and-environmental-peace/

Women for Women International: Cultivating a more enabling environment: Strengthening women’s resilience in climate-vulnerable and conflict-affected communities: https://www.womenforwomen.org/environment-conflict-gender