Each year, the Conference of Parties or COP as it is commonly known, is held in a different part of the world and has a new theme respectively attached to it. This year, COP27 is set to be held in Egypt, in the city of Sharm El Sheikh. COP27 will be held between November 6 and 18. The unique feature of this year’s event is that each day will be designated a new topic or area of discussion. For instance, the Gender Day held on the 14th November, will discuss the role of Women leaders in the battle against climate change.
Idea behind Gender Day
The underlying idea behind gender day is to highlight the impact that climate change has on women around the world. To bring to the forefront how women are at a disproportionate disadvantage compared to their male counterparts, as well as to emphasise the need for women leaders in campaigns to help further curb climate change. The day will highlight the role that many women in leadership positions play and the importance of inclusion when incorporating more women leaders.
The day will also highlight how important it is for policy makers to understand the disproportionate disadvantage that women in underdeveloped and developing countries experience as a result of climate change. This is expected to inspire them to formulate more policies which are advantageous to women in these regions.
The Schedule of the Gender Day
Gender Day will be divided into 7 parts. Starting with the headline event which is a discussion on Women’s Agency in Climate Dialogues and Implementation, and how it is a Win-Win for all. The day will progress into a high level panel discussion. This will focus on showcasing the voice of women leaders in climate debates, policies, implementation and beyond.
After the completion of the panel discussion, the next point on the agenda of the day will focus on women and climate change finance. The discussion will centre around the significance of incorporating women’s diverse viewpoints into climate change finance strategies. It will also emphasise the ways climate finance must be utilised to encourage women to adopt gender-sensitive action against climate change.
The next part of the day will bring a focus to the plight of African women’s climate change realities. Real-life experiences of these women will be shared during this discussion to spread awareness about the harsh realities of climate change in this part of the world. Discussions will then shift to the impact of Covid 19 on climate change. How women across the world in leadership positions have been at the center of planning and responding to threats posed during this time, as well as in its aftermath.
Moving on from this the conversation will then turn to the direction of promoting women’s livelihood with a just transition. An assessment of opportunities in many parts of the world and how people in powerful positions can leverage these opportunities to better the lives of women who are adversely burdened. The day will conclude in a press conference.
Conclusion
Gender day is expected to bring meaningful change in the lives of those that have been burdened unfairly as a consequence of climate change. Understanding the positive role played by women leaders, the day is expected to end with more women put into leadership positions for this cause.