First, meet the delegation!
For the first time ever, the WILPF delegation was selected based on an open and transparent application process. A strong, dynamic delegation of ten WILPF members from Cameroon, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Germany, the United States and Canada as well as our International President, Sylvie Jaqueline Ndongmo and the International Secretariat’s Environment Focal Point represented our organisation.
Head over to this Twitter thread for a more detailed introduction of each delegate.
On the importance of our presence
WILPF brought messages of demilitarisation and gender justice for climate justice to COP27. These interconnected issues are raised by few other civil society organisations. Our advocacy messages centred around the appeal to countries reduce military spending and to re-allocate it to climate financing and as well as to a gender-responsive just transition away from fossil fuels.
With hundreds of civil society representatives, activists, and affected communities from across the globe gathering each year at COPs, WILPF used this opportunity for networking and movement building. We have formed new friendships and alliances that we will continue to deepen for our continued struggle for climate justice and peace.
As this COP took place on the African continent, WILPF amplified the demands by African feminists as part of the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC), of which WILPF is a member. With the majority of WILPF’s delegation from African countries, delegates were able to share lived experiences with state representatives, civil society groups, practitioners, and others present at COP27. They have returned home with many learnings, and a strong foundation for further work on the intersections between climate, gender, and peace in their context.
A look back at the key moments
Collective power & solidarity
At this COP, WILPF witnessed and participated in the beautiful diversity and solidarity of a global grassroots climate justice movement, through joint actions and protests, and by listening to personal stories in side events, panels, and chats over coffee. It allowed WILPF to build alliances with other organisations and activists and pave the way for future collaborations. Michelle Benzing, member of WILPF Germany describes her COP27 highlights, particularly around global solidarity: “The real change at COP27 came from the people. With powerful protests civil society held the big polluters accountable, demanding reparations for loss and damage, cancellation of debts, the protection of human rights, demilitarisation, gender justice and the centring of the perspectives of the most marginalised at the negotiation tables. (…)”
Witnessing a landmark agreement: the loss and damage fund
While the final outcome of this COP has failed to ensure urgent climate action, we were witnesses to this COP’s landmark decision to establish a loss and damage fund to address the devastating consequences of the climate crisis. This historic outcome is a result of decades long activism and advocacy by civil society and leaders from the Global South and their allies. The decision shows that the United Nations can achieve results. Ayo Ayoola-Amale from WILPF Ghana reflects on this big milestone: “I am excited about the new fund that was agreed to at COP27, to help developing countries cope with the losses and damages suffered due to climate breakdown. This fund is absolutely vital. The challenge now is how to resource the fund and how to ensure a gender-responsive approach to developing climate policy that is crucial to advancing gender equality and climate justice. Remember, no gender equality, no climate justice.”
Awareness is growing on interdependency of peace and the environment
While the formal negotiations have (not yet) addressed the important interlinkages of peace, demilitarisation and reallocation of military spending to climate finance, we were heartened to see a growing awareness around the various interlinkages of peace and the ecological crisis. The number of state initiatives as well as events hosted on environmental impacts of war, military emissions, as well as on the broader links of peace, human rights, and the environment has never been higher at a COP. We are now plotting how we can meaningfully build on this momentum going forward. Tamara Lorincz from WILPF Canada and Convener of the International Environment Working Group (EWG) reflects on her motivations to redouble her work for climate justice: “I met with many activists from the Global South and listened to their distressing stories of how global warming is worsening and adversely affecting their lives. Their stories of struggle have led me to redouble my efforts to call for military spending to be cut for climate financing to help countries in the Global South adapt to climate change and deal with loss and damage.”
Some great lessons… and disappointment
Having experienced COP first-hand, the WILPF delegation, as so many others, has been frustrated with the increasing corporate capture of COP. The conference often appeared more like a greenwashing expo space for countries and corporations. No COP has seen more fossil fuel lobbyists than this year, while access for civil society was heavily restricted. Coca Cola was one of the key sponsors of this year’s global climate talks while a small handful of states shut down the opportunity to call for the phase-out of all fossil fuels. Against this backdrop, Edwick Madzimure, WILPF Zimbabwe reflects on these unequal power dynamics: “There is need to stop climate imperialism. If the major emitters continue making the decisions, how will justice prevail in those rooms? COPs have been going on for the past 27 without tangible results, this shows that as grassroots communities we must make coming up with home grown solutions to the climate shocks a priority.”
In terms of gender justice, this year’s COP offered the overwhelming impression that climate negotiations are still men’s business. At this year’s COP27, women made up less than 34 per cent of country negotiating teams. COP27 was also tasked with reviewing progress and challenges of the five-year Gender Action Plan (GAP). The review process lacked substance, parties failed to prioritise this agenda item throughout COP27, and civil society experts were shut out of negotiations. States parties ignored key demands for gender-just climate action by the Women and Gender Constituency (WGC).
However, we know that there is no climate justice without gender justice. Nouha Ghosseini, WILPF Lebanon, reflects on this aspect in more detail: “It is time to demand equal representation of women in political circles (…), climate action committees, and so on, at local and national levels. Without women leaders in the climate movement, the solutions and responses to the climate emergency will continue to exclude women’s needs and compromise their rights. WILPF stands ready to listen and amplify their voices and support women at the forefront of climate action around the world who are advocating for environmental [justice] (…).” Similarly, Aubine Zambou from WILPF Cameroon underscores that “Women (…) have the capacity, the courage, the strength to lead for environmental protection.”
In light of the above, our International President Sylvie Ndongmo concludes: “Our participation at COP has once more highlighted the strength of collective action and power. Women’s voices were loud and clear despite slow response and action from the main polluters. The deaf ears of key stakeholders should not discourage women and make them relent their efforts to demand climate justice which is an imperative for sustainable peace.”
What happens now?
While WILPF members have participated in past COPs, this has been the first COP where delegates were selected based on an open and transparent application process. The selected delegation, with the support of the International Environment Working Group (EWG), has been working for many months in preparation of this conference. Now it’s time to reflect on achievements and challenges, and to lay the foundation for future work around COPs, and climate justice more broadly. Watch this space!
If you want to learn more about our work on the environment, peace, and feminism, head to our dedicated webpage. If you want to get involved in the international Environment Working Group, reach out to our Environment Focal Point Katrin Geyer (katrin.geyer(a)wilpf.org)!
Want to go further?
Why can’t there be climate justice without demilitarisation?
Impact of the Climate Crisis on Women, Peace, and Security in MENA
How the West has Militarised & Impoverished the African Continent
Global Appeal to Reduce Military Spending and Re-Allocate to Climate Financing
