Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, has emphasized the participation of women in the climate action conversation as vital as the impact of climate change increasingly affects their livelihoods.
She expressed concern that the voices of the worst affected, including women, children, the poor, and vulnerable communities in Africa, were often ignored.
“We regretfully witness the dire consequences of climate change on a global scale – raging fires across Europe and North America, steaming heatwaves, devastating droughts, and destructive floods. These calamities further exacerbate the challenges faced by vulnerable communities,” she stated.
Samira Bawumia was speaking at the maiden edition of the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC) in Accra on Wednesday.
The two-day conference was on the theme: “Amplifying the voices of women and children in climate action,” an initiative of the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP) under the auspices of the Office of the President.
Joining the call for inclusivity, South Africa’s Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disability, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, urged women to actively engage in the climate debate.
She highlighted that without their participation, climate policies and interventions would fall short of addressing the specific needs of the most vulnerable.
“Climate change policy and practice should be rooted in genuine and widespread consultations with African women, children, and persons with disabilities,” Dr. Dlamini-Zuma emphasized.
She underscored the importance of initiatives aimed at poverty eradication and economic empowerment to rebuild households and community assets.
Encouraging the youth to play a pivotal role, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma added, “Young people must be encouraged to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to harness their talents and propose innovative solutions to combat climate change.”
Highlighting the gender implications of climate change, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stressed that the crisis is not gender-neutral. She cited UNDP data revealing that women and children are 14 times more likely to lose their lives in disasters compared to men.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also raised concerns about the severe water scarcity faced by future generations, stating that, “By 2040, nearly 600 million children, one in four worldwide, would be living in areas with extremely limited water resources, posing a severe threat to their well-being.”
In a virtual address, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, stressed the urgent need for a quantum leap in climate action and the delivery of climate justice to ensure no one is left behind.
With leaders across different sectors uniting their voices, the global community is called upon to embrace inclusivity and prioritize the valuable input of women and other vulnerable groups in tackling the challenges posed by climate change. Only through collective effort and gender-responsive policies can the world hope to forge a sustainable and equitable future for all.