The Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA) and the governments of Finland and Denmark in partnership with South Africa, Jordan, Grenada, Ghana, Lesotho, Costa Rica, AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States), and UN Foundation organised an official high-level COP15 side event titled Investing in Women’s Leadership for Climate Solutions. Featuring a number of high-profile women, the event focussed on the importance of gender equality as critical to mitigation and adaptation and enhancing the effectiveness and reach of climate change funding.

Speakers included Tarja Halonen, the President of Finland, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the President of the Philippines, and the U.S. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi declaring: I Am An Agent of C Change.

The Philippine Climate Change Act was signed in October 2009, creating a commission to implement strategies for the country to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters. The Philippines is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It is predicted that the country will experience more typhoons, floods, droughts, heat waves and crop production shortages as a result of climate change.

Only one-third of the delegates attending the COP this year are women, which can make it more difficult for equal representation of women and men’s views.

Source: Global Gender and Climate Alliance
(GGCA) press release.

Related articles:

• Women Discouraged by COP Outcome – But Committed to Hope & Action for 2010
• The Truth is in the Floods
• Responding to the Environmental Extremes & the Economics of the Times
• Global Day of Action on Climate Change
• Copenhagen Accord: A Bad Deal Waiting to Happen