SI UN Representative Rina Dupriet attended the Paris Climate Conference, otherwise known as COP21, on behalf of Soroptimist International. Throughout the talks, Rina observed that the views and experiences of women were not being properly represented. In this blog, she shares her ideas on why it is vital that women and girls are properly included in negotiations and that their needs are properly addressed when tackling climate change. 

"From the 30 November to 11 December, the French
Government accepted to host a meeting with all the Presidents and Prime Ministers
of the world in order to decide about the future of the climate. Indeed, the climate
is increasingly warm and our planet is in great difficulty with its seven billion
inhabitants.

This important Conference, the United Nations
Conference on Climate Change, hosted in Paris was not only attended by global
leaders, but by NGOs and activists. Scenes throughout Paris showed the passion
that people had for action and commitment to change.

 

Photo: Rina Dupriet (centre) with fellow SI UN Representative Marie-Christine Gries de la Barbelais (left)

"It
is necessary to promote sustainable development, the protection of environment,
and the quality of life – especially for people who live in great poverty all
over the world!

In
fact, everybody knows that women are always in great difficulty and really
very alone when there is war in their country, when the natural resources have
disappeared (water for example) and when they cannot participate at the
national or local decision-making. Among the population living in great poverty
we can say that 70% are women. They have less than $1.90 per day to live on! All
of the challenges these women face get worse with climate change and global
warming.

These
women have to look for water, farm, or collect firewood and meanwhile their children
cannot go to school. This situation creates inequality between men and women: women
are also time-poor. Multiple commitments at home make it even harder for women
to participate politically. This means they are not well known in the politics
of sustainable development and the fight against the climate change. Instead, they
have a main role in production and it’s still important to recognize their
daily work.

 

Photo:  Girls at a rural school in Uganda queue for water. This school has been supplied with solar cookers, solar lights and a water system through SI’s ‘See Solar, Cook Solar’ President’s Appeal. 

"Across Africa and South America, and indeed all over
the world, women can contribute and bring precious value in the process of climate
change politics.

Do
you know that 70% of budgets relevant to climate change are managed only by men
and concerned high technologies projects? Therefore, only 30% are managed by
women and concern little projects, especially in rural communities.

COP21 had to decide about two things. Firstly, about the empowerment of women in the world: all women have to have the power to
decide their own life! Secondly, on equality between men and women: all girls have to be able to access education
and follow the education cycle and finish it. Through education can girls be empowered
to access jobs, just like the boys!? Climate
change is then a challenge for all women all over the world. Soroptimist
International is there to help them.

But
it does not end here. In 2016, COP22 will be in Marrakech, Morocco. It is
still possible for more improvements to be made – may culture and mentalities
change!"

Blog by Rina Dupriet, SI UN Representative in Paris.