Joining the women of the world Margaret Alston Professor of Social Work Director of GLASS Monash University

GLASS The Gender, Leadership and Social Sustainability (GLASS) research unit was established at Monash University in 2008 Patron – Governor-General Quentin Bryce Monash and GLASS have provided a vehicle to build this research 1 Senior Research Fellow, 2 PhD scholarships Additional research grants and PhD students Research gender and CC sex trafficking Gender mainstreaming Victorian Rural Women’s Network project

Gender and Climate Change Forum Funded by DAFF Builds on our research Leads to Copenhagen and beyond

Minister Burke’s message I understand that climate change can have disproportionate effects on women particularly in developing nations. A global solution to climate change is critical and the Australian government is committed to sustainable and effective international policy relating to climate change. The UN conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen provides a critical opportunity to develop a new and effective long-term approach to global cooperation. If you wish to provide me with the results of your [forum], the information can be made available to the Australian delegation to inform their negotiations. I would like to extend my congratulations on the development of GLASS.

Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce’s Message The Governor-General sends her best wishes to all concerned for a most successful forum

Mary Robinson’s Message Many thanks for informing me of the very timely National Forum on Women, Leadership and Climate Change which GLASS is organising on November 10 in Melbourne. Unfortunately I have been and continue to be travelling extensively since we met in Berlin and it is not possible to send a video message. I would hope that the voices of rural women in Australia will be heard at the COP 15 meeting in Copenhagen. If there is a report you can send me, I would be happy to make reference at some of the events I will be attending.

Secretary General of the UN – Ban Ki-moon Statement 24 Sept 2009 Women are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Many depend directly on the environment for their livelihoods and sustenance. Women are also custodians of community knowledge, with keen insights into how to sustainably manage natural resources. …the special perspectives of women is often overlooked in global discussions of climate change. We must do more to give greater say to women in addressing the climate challenge. I urge member states to foster an environment where women are key decision makers on climate change, and play an equally central role in carrying out these decisions. Women should be seen not as victims but as agents of progress. It is time to involve them as equal partners. When we do, the whole world will benefit.

CEDAW 2009 CEDAW expresses its concerns about the absence of a gender perspective in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other global and national policies and initiatives on climate change ….

Aspen Environment forum March 2009 Women leaders statement calling for gender equality in CC initiatives The challenges and hardships caused by CC in both developed and developing countries have both a disproportionate impact on women and their ability to successfully adapt to those challenges and to participate in discussions crafting a new global agreement.

Liberia and Finland March 2009 Call for action on gender and climate change – Create an enabling environment for the participation of women in decision making on climate change Encourage women’s participation in mitigation and adaptation … by making necessary resources and technology available..

Women’s activism Progress on the incorporation of gender concerns in international agreements on climate change has been little and slow (Hemmati 2008) Establishment of GenderCC Global Gender and Climate Alliance

GenderCC GenderCC – women for climate justice is the global network of women and gender activists and experts from all world regions working for gender and climate justice. GenderCC offers its warm wishes and solidarity to the Rural Women’s Forum On Climate Change of Australia at the opening of this important event to discuss the situation of rural women and women farmers. We offer again our warm congratulations for the organisation of this important meeting and we offer you our support for the best outcomes possible in this meeting and to those actions that this meeting will carry forward. May you have every success in all your endeavours. Anna Pinto, India, Gotelind Alber, Germany On behalf of GenderCC – Women for Climate Justice

Global Gender and Climate Alliance United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Women’s Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO) United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) The World conservation Union (IUCN)

Women of the world – UN Millenium Development Goals

CC - Why gender? Women – 70% of world’s poor Inequitable access to land, credit, extension and decision making Fuel and water supplies for household Young girls dropping out of school

Women 14 x more likely to die during a disaster (Neumayer and Pluemper 2007) 1991 Bangladesh cyclone dead – 90% women Male outmigration,greater economic security post-disaster and slower recovery CSW 2008 Climate Change does not affect women and men in the same way

Women contribute less to global warming yet will be hit harder by its effects (GenderCC)

Benefits of including women Fairness and equity Capacity of women to be change agents Knowledge of agricultural production, soils, seeds etc Adaptation and mitigation strategies

COP Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change Copenhagen is COP 15

Meetings leading to COP 15

Our forum join the women of the world? Engage in CC debate Discuss GLASS statement and add actions Send to Minister for distribution to Copenhagen delegation

Women, Leadership and Climate Change National Forum Melbourne November GLASS Statement The Women, Leadership and Climate Change forum was convened in Melbourne in November 2009 by the Gender Leadership and Social Sustainability (GLASS) research unit at Monash University in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The forum focussed on the impact of climate change on the daily lives of Australia’s rural (including remote and Indigenous) women and on women’s own possibilities to participate in mitigating and adapting to climate change. It linked these considerations to both the Australian policy context and international mechanisms and the momentum building around a new climate change agreement in Copenhagen in December It called for women’s participation in these negotiations and for the incorporation of gender considerations in any new agreements. The forum discussed this GLASS statement and developed actions. GLASS Statement This forum provides space for us, as Australian rural women, to reflect and consider our role in climate change and its daily impact on us, our families and our communities and to articulate the potential of rural women to participate in local, regional, national and international dialogue, decision making and solutions. We recognise that the challenges and hardships caused by climate change in both developed and developing countries have a proven disproportionate impact on women and their ability to successfully adapt to those challenges and to participate in discussions. We recognise it undermines our ability to achieve our full potential. We also recognise that women have the skills, knowledge and capacity to adapt to climate change and can be powerful actors in designing and enabling climate solutions through advocacy and action. We can play a central role in changing the consumption and production patterns to sustainable levels through awareness raising, information sharing and using traditional knowledge. We recognise that strengthening women’s networks is important to achieving these goals. We believe that women’s leadership and participation in decision making at all levels is critical for effective environmental governance. We are committed to strengthening and mobilising our collective leadership to address climate change issues in Australia and to link with women and men around the world to share successes and develop sustainable solutions.