Olga Djanaeva – Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
Your Excellencies, distinguished speakers, honourable members and delegates
It is a privilege to be invited to speak to this consultation prior to CSW66 and to amplify the voices of members of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development spreading across 30 countries in Asia and the Pacific, including my own organisation ALGA – Rural Women’s Association, Kyrgyzstan.
Women in Asia and the Pacific in all their diversities are confronting the worsening climate crisis on a daily basis, and the evidence of its adverse impacts and struggles of women on the ground has been reiterated in the national progress reports of many Member States during the Beijing+25 review. Cambodia is ranked as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change and disasters with the least capacity to adapt. Bangladesh has reported that the climate crisis is adversely affecting women’s health, lives and livelihoods, particularly due to the ‘rising water salinity and loss of water and sanitation facilities’. In the Pacific, Fiji and the Marshall Islands are trying to survive despite having more and more uninhabitable islands. The countries also reported that ‘women have lost income from traditional livelihoods due to drought and have been internally displaced due to climate induced natural disasters. My country, Kyrgyzstan, has witnessed a rapid average temperature increase of 8 degrees Celsius during this century.
It became clearer every day that many countries in Asia and the Pacific region are experiencing existential threat due to the current climate catastrophe.
Yet, we are witnessing how critical negotiations to tackle climate emergencies such as the COP26 remain dominated by the fossil fuel industry, the main sector behind 85% of the global climate issues. During the negotiations, women along with many Member Countries from Asia and the Pacific were voiceless and underrepresented as a result of vaccine inequity and colonialistic approach of the UK government, one among the countries accountable to put all of us in this fast-track to the climate apocalypse. We are deeply concerned about the increasing corporate grip in climate negotiations and the continuous promotion of business as usual hiding behind the so-called ‘climate ambitions’ oppressing women and violating their human rights.
Feminists and grassroots women’s movements continue to present substantial analysis on how the current system needs to be redefined to achieve Environmental Justice for the peoples. On the occasion of this regional consultation, we are reiterating the importance of dismantling the root causes of climate injustices. Immediate fossil fuel phase-out, holding polluters accountable for their historical and ongoing responsibility while promoting energy democracy that upholds women’s human rights for just and equitable transition from the current climate crises is the fundamental need of the hour.
Developed countries must drastically cut their emissions by 2030 to prevent further losses and damages, and provide financing facility based on the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) to assist developing countries in coping with the impacts. The support given must be based on the needs, consent and determined direction of the countries in need.
We call on Member States to develop and implement gender responsive policy and budgeting to promote women’s human rights and gender equality and create an enabling environment for grassroots women to demand accountability at all levels.
Further, we call on Member States to support community based climate solutions, strengthen the ambitions and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), including by upholding women’s human rights, ensuring the meaningful participation, leadership and reflection of women’s voices and priorities in all stages including the planning and implementation of the national climate solutions.
Throughout history, major crises have resulted in significant political, economic and social changes – sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. We must ask ourselves whether we want to recover on a healthier planet for all of us? Or do we want to keep on pursuing the path of climate apocalypse?
Women across Asia and the Pacific region are determined to strengthen our solidarity marching towards a just and equitable transition from these global crises. We call upon everyone in this room to hear our voices and march together for system change and not climate change!
Thank you!
