Climate: Why women are the agents of change

Together with the Rockefeller Foundation, the UN Climate Change secretariat has launched a new initiative to recognize the critical role of women in fighting climate change: "Momentum for Change:
Women for Results."

The initiative will showcase activities to inform governments, media and the public at large about the crucial role of women in confronting the challenges of both adapting to climate change and curbing emissions.

"Women have the power to make a major difference. They are at the nexus between food, water and energy. This nexus is both the challenge and the solution to climate change, and we need to ensure women's leadership in bringing about the solutions," said UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres.

Heather Grady, Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation pointed out that in Africa women are responsible for 80% of food production on the continent, and therefore need to be more involved in decisions relating to food security: "While climate change affects us all, it does not affect us all equally. Women, though disproportionately affected, are crucial agents of change."

The "Women for Results" initiative is part of the wider "Momentum for Change" initiative designed to highlight inspiring mitigation and adaptation actions implemented by a wide range of stakeholders at regional, national, or local level and which can encourage governments, businesses and civil society to do more to combat climate change.

The first raft of "Momentum for Change: Women for Results "Lighthouse activities" will be showcased by the UN Climate Change Secretariat at COP 19 in Poland next year. Applications will be accepted from 8 March 2012, which is International Women's Day.

About the UNFCCC
With 195 Parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol has been ratified by 193 of the UNFCCC Parties. Under the Protocol, 37 States, consisting of highly industrialized countries and countries undergoing the process of transition to a market economy, have legally binding emission limitation and reduction commitments. The ultimate objective of both treaties is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

Momentum for Change
Momentum for Change aims to create a public platform that raises awareness about concrete mitigation and adaptation actions being implemented by a wide range of stakeholders at regional, national, or local level. Momentum for Change seeks to demonstrate the multiple benefits of addressing climate change and to transform misperceptions surrounding taking action on climate change. Urban poor pillar, the first focus area of Momentum for Change, was launched in Durban at the COP 17/CMP 7 last year.

See also:
unfccc.int
rockefellerfoundation.org

• Follow Momentum for Change on Twitter: @Momentum_UNFCCC
• Momentum for Change on Facebook:  facebook.com/ unfcccmomentum
• UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres on Twitter: @CFigueres