How was your experience at the COP29 in Baku?

It felt like there were two conferences going on simultaneously–one of hope, solidarity and positive solutions in the rooms where civil society convened, and another in the rooms where the actual decisions were being made, with the latter not hearing the former. This culminated in disappointing outcomes across the board.

At COP29, I witnessed a pressing need for climate action being met with an unyielding and often actively regressive force, consisting of Global North countries and fossil fuel lobbyists. 

The climate crisis is the most pressing issue of our time. Yet, instead of making history, and providing Global South countries with adequate, flexible, grant-based, and feminist funding, or providing tangible support for gender-sensitive climate initiatives and budgeting, or redirecting military spending towards climate finance, Global North countries continued to silence indigenous voices and refused to accept responsibility for the damage they continue to cause. 

We have been left with bureaucratic inefficiency, entrenched glaring disparities between Global North and Global South countries, and no real progress on tackling a rapidly accelerating climate crisis. Despite this, the resilience and positivity of the fellow advocates I met and worked with during COP29 is proof of the inspiring and transformative work that can be done. Remaining united in solidarity for feminist and climate justice has never been more important. 

The atmosphere became increasingly frustrated throughout Week 1 as negotiations grew more tense and demands continued to be ignored or deferred. The simmering tension throughout the conference descended into chaos in the final days as the boiling point was reached. Despite this, the solidarity, empathy, and community displayed between civil society organisations allowed for compassion and hope in the most difficult of circumstances. 

Personally, the most impactful moment for me at COP29 was attending a press conference of indigenous Brazilian women, who were calling for urgent action in the Amazon Rainforest and solidarity with women leaders defending and protecting their communities and territories. The strength, grace, and urgency that the women demonstrated was met with a standing ovation in the room. 

However, the dichotomy of indigenous women and other marginalised climate leaders sharing feminist solutions, whilst their very existence was being threatened in high-level closed-door discussions just down the corridor, was stark. Despite these advocates being at COP29 and sharing their experiences with sympathetic people, their calls continued to fall on deaf ears, as those who really needed to hear their voices were not listening. 

What lessons did you take from the conference?

At COP29, I saw first-hand a clear disconnect between the civil society space and the Party negotiations. Within civil society, the intersection of gender equality, peace, and climate justice was constantly addressed. Yet in the negotiation rooms and during high-level meetings, it was a completely different picture. For example, in the Gender Consultations regarding the New Lima Work Programme, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other countries vehemently rejected any mention of intersectionality and gender diversity in the draft text, which led to major delays.

During the conference, I learnt that women’s leadership in climate spaces is now, more than ever, imperative. Yet women’s voices, especially those from communities living in marginalised situations, were not adequately represented. Statistically, 8 of the 78 world leaders participating in COP were women. UN Women shared that only 6 out of these leaders mentioned the impact of climate change on women and girls. 4 out of those 6 were women. The continued underrepresentation of women leaders at COP29 is worrying, disappointing, and simply not good enough. Women are powerful agents of change, and their inclusion at decision making level locally, nationally, and globally, is crucial. As a representative from Chad stated, “If you invest in women, you invest in the society”. Achieving gender parity in climate negotiations and integrating gender equality into climate initiatives will create more just and sustainable climate solutions.

What is it like to be an activist for climate justice today? 

The experience of being a climate activist today is context dependent. I recognise my privilege as a white, educated, woman from Scotland, who can advocate without fear of government retaliation. The security I enjoy in my home country is not unanimous. This was especially evident in Azerbaijan, where there is an appalling human rights record. Local advocates face oppressive laws, torture, discrimination, prison, and even death. Prior to COP29, Azerbaijani authorities prosecuted over a dozen journalists and activists, and imprisoned key climate justice advocates. Azerbaijan’s own civil society’s participation was strictly limited at COP29 due to these threats, yet the brave local activists who did attend played a vital role in advocating for ambitious targets.  

I believe that the political climate that WILPF is working in globally is becoming increasingly difficult. The disappointing outcomes from COP29, combined with the deeply worrying push back from numerous Parties against making a genuine commitment to gender equality, is indicative of the wider global increase in misogyny. These movements are deeply connected to the entrenched systems of patriarchy and militarism that are exacerbating the climate crisis and gender inequalities. 

What is your message for other young WILPFers?

Climate and intersectional feminist action starts with each of us. Together, as feminists, we can be powerful agents of change, advancing demilitarisation and gender equality. We must listen to the indigenous voices of those on the frontline – they hold the expert solutions we need going forward. We cannot wait for the political climate to get better. We need to build momentum wherever we can at local, national, and international level. Although it may feel hopeless, or overwhelming at first, remember that doing something is better than nothing!