COP21: Key WGC Events

From 30 November to 11 December, the Women and Gender Constituency will host a ‘Women’s Pavilion and Gender-Just Solutions Exhibition’ in the Climate Generations Area of COP21 in Le Bourget, Paris.

The space will aims to:

• Highlight a ‘gender-just’ climate solutions agenda; highlighting decentralized, locally owned, safe and sustainable climate solutions which work for women and promote equality;
• Build capacity of a mainstream audience on the social and gender dimensions of climate change, providing a host of tools and information;
• Strengthen the network of individuals/ organizations and alliances interested in understanding climate change through a gender lens by showcasing and connecting to the organizations already working on it;

It will be divided into ‘4 Corners’:

• THE SOLUTIONS CORNER: Solutions displayed as models and with explanatory posters. All solutions get our WGC “stamp” with “gender-just climate proof” solution – or “safe, appropriate and socially, economically and environmentally sound solution”.

• THE COMBINED LOUNGE / ART DISPLAY AND SPEAKERS CORNER: This will be a relaxed environment with some couches/nice to sit on chairs, to have a comfortable seat, a video screen, a publication holder and a microphone. There will be a board with the schedule for the programme of the lounge corner, changing between personal and video presentations. People have the possibility to listen to the presentations, watch different videos on a screen or to have a look at the displayed publications. Space for displaying photography or other arts e.g. highlighting art from the women’s global campaign for climate justice. See full programme of ‘lounge events’ here. 

• THE CAMPAIGN CORNER: This corner will be run by ‘The Women’s Global Call for Climate Justice’ and it will be a dedicated space for showcasing actions being undertaken by the campaign- linking to national level actions happening during the Paris COP21 conference and providing a ‘direct action’ space for people to get engaged on the spot and be connected to actions around the world.

• THE POLICY CORNER – INFORMATION DESK:The visitor will get the condensed information here. The area will be marked with an information desk, staffed with one experienced person as contact person for the exhibition area.

The WGC will host an OPEN Women’s Caucus daily from 9am -10am during the COP21 negotiations in Observer Room 9.

In addition there will be three thematic days for the Caucus:
• Wednesday, 2 December: Young Feminist Day
• Friday, 4 December: Trade Unions/Labor Day
• Monday, 7 December: Indigenous Women’s Day

PRESS CONFERENCE: “Women’s Red Flags for the Climate Talks» – showcasing some of women’s key demands 15:30 – 16:00

Women at the frontline of climate change take action for system change

16:45 -18:15

Observer Room 4

There’s no sign that the Paris outcome will deliver systems change needed to resolve the interlocking crises of climate and inequality. Civil society is using their collective power to shape a sustainable future, and explore options for addressing gender dimensions at local & national level.  Speakers: Kate Lappin (APWLD), Tetet Lauron (Ibon International), Gotelind Alber (GenderCC), Ulrike Roehr (LIFE e.V.), Women and Gender Constituency, representatives from Constituencies, the UNFCCC Secretariat and Member States.

« Lutte contre le dérèglement climatique : les femmes en première ligne » 17:00 -18:00

Salle Lamartine (1er sous-sol, 101 rue de l’Université, 75 007 Paris)

Dans le cadre de la Cop 21, la Délégation aux droits des femmes et à l’égalité des chances entre les hommes et les femmes de l’Assemblée nationale vous convie à un colloque sur la « Lutte contre le dérèglement climatique : les femmes en première ligne ». Speakers: Eleanor Blomstrom, WEDO; Usha Nair, WGC.

Art & Climate

Afternoon TBC

The Women & Gender Constituency Pavilion (Climate Generations Area)

Piano Concert with with artistic video projection of musician and artist Frederique Nalpas, with special guest, French Secretary of State for Women’s Rights, Mrs. Pascale Boitard. Organized: French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), in collaboration with the Women and Gender Constituency.

Fair Low/Zero Carbon & 100% RE Strategies, South & North Countries, Villages, incl Women Initiatives

16:45- 18:15

Observer Room 3

Showcase low and zero emission strategies and scenarios with 100% renewables, women’s initiatives and eco-village development solutions for poverty reduction in Europe, Africa and South Asia, as ways for operationalising the Paris Agreement and the pathways leading from it.  Speakers: Usha Nair, All India Wom. Conf. (AIWC); Z. Myles, WAFD, India; G.R. Shresta, Center Rural Tech.(CRT), Nepal; D. Herath, IDEA, Sri Lanka; M. Hasan, Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh; D. Nanaste, ENDA, Senegal G.B. Olesen, INFORSE Y. Marignac, negaWatt; France P. Allen, CAT-Wales; F. Yamin, Track0; Jennifer Morgan, WRI(tbc)

Climate Induced Migrants : Question on Rights and Responsibilities

16:45- 18:15

Observer Room 4

This is to (i) discuss the scenario on climate induced migrants, (ii) identify the right framework in view of different international covenants and rights conventions, and (iii) identify what could be done within UNFCCC frame works and with CBDR principles. Speakers: Kumi Naido Green Peace, Lidy Nacpil APMDD, Mithika Miwanda PACJA, Tettet Lauran APRN, Sahidul Haque MOFA Bangladesh, Dr Q kohliquzzaman, Soymaya Dutta, Prerna Bomzan LDC Watch, Ziaul Haque Mukta Oxfam, Dr Ahsanuddin, Dr Atiq Rahman BCAS, Sanjay Vahsit CANSA, Farah Kabir Action Aid, APWLD

Gender Just Climate Solutions

11:30am – 1:00pm

Observer Room 1

Women and men from around the world present their good practices as well as their roles in sustainable local economies and climate solutions. The event will highlight a few key ‘gender-just’ solutions, giving practical technical examples of projects for climate mitigation or adaptation that take into account gender equality and sustainable development. In addition, the event will launch a new ‘Gender-Just Solutions’ publication, highlighting over 30 technical, non-technical and transformative solutions for climate action. Finally, speakers will discuss the principles and corresponding policies needed to ensure that solutions advance rights, equality and environmental integrity– and crucially, how this must be reflected in the new climate agreement through gender-responsive means of implementation: safe, appropriate and socially sound technologies, alongside gender-responsive capacity building and finance. Organized: WEDO, WECF, WEP

Women & Gender Constituency: Policy & Action for a Just World

13:30 – 16:30

Climate Generations Area- Salle 4

3-hour interactive event to showcase the linkages between gender and climate change; to highlight a narrative for system change; and to hear from women’s rights activists from around the world highlighting their solutions, movement building and activism. Speakers include: Ulrike Roehr, Kate Lappin, Titi Sorentoro, Sabine Bock, Ursula Rokova, Flavia Cherry, Alina Saba, Tess Vistro Reem, Gotelind Alber.

PRESS CONFERENCE: “Gender Just Day: Solutions and Action», launching Gender Day and highlighting key solutions being showcased 18:00 – 18:30

A comprehensive mapping of all events by women’s rights advocates or regarding gender and climate change can be viewed here.