After six years, the 2022 climate negotiations (COP27) are now back on the African continent. At this critical time when the world and Africa particularly is battling multiple crises—climate change, economic crisis, and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic—it is time for the global community to prioritize the needs of the region. 

Africa has contributed negligibly to climate change but been among the hardest hit by climate impacts. Although a changing climate affects all, women and girls—particularly those marginalised by various systems—bear greater burdens from the impacts of climate change. Despite facing multiple challenges and structural barriers, these groups are leading exceptional work protecting the natural environment, and their unique perspectives and solutions must be centered in climate change policies and processes.

Ahead of the climate negotiations (COP27) to be held in Egypt from 6-18 November, African girls’ and women’s activists gathered from all five regions of the continent to launch a set of collective demands that must be addressed. African women, girls, and feminists have for decades advocated for major emitters to take greater responsibility in climate response actions, as well as for their own equal representation in climate negotiations and decision-making spaces—from local to global.

Learn More About Our Demands

Standing in our Power: African Women’s and Girls’ Demands for COP27 outlines 27 specific demands across six priority areas. They include 1) Inclusion of women and young people in national and UNFCCC decision-making processes; 2) a just and equitable transition from fossil fuels for all; 3) the provision of adequate, accessible, affordable, flexible and human rights centered finance as a matter of justice and equity; 4) agriculture and land rights; 5) sustainable, community owned and women-led technological solutions; and 6) intersectionality and coherence with broader frameworks for sustainable development.

Read the full demands document:

• In English
• En français
• En español
• بالعربية
• Em português
• Kwa kiswahili

Videos

Watch the demands launch event:

 

Learn more about our demands for meaningful women’s and youth leadership:

Learn more about our demands for land rights and agroecology:

Learn more about our demands for protections for women human rights defenders:

Take Action

Quick share: Retweet this post from the WGC!

For Everyone: Use our social media toolkit to amplify our demands.

For African Feminists: Join the campaign by recording a short video of your demand for COP27, and share it with WGC Coordinator Zukiswa White.

For Journalists: Our list of spokespeople covers all five regions of Africa across various topics, including: women’s and youth leadership in climate processes, energy transition, climate finance, technology, and the interrelated demands for climate, social, and economic justice. For media requests, contact: zukiswa@womengenderclimate.org. 

African Feminist Voices

Read and share quotes and photos from African Feminist leaders:

• In English
• En français
• بالعربية
• Kwa kiswahili

Watch and share these videos highlighting African women’s and girls’ demands on:

• Youth Leadership & Inclusion
• Land Rights & Ecology
• Extraction, Militarism & Women Human Rights Defenders