From 6-18 November, WEDO joined feminist advocates from around the world in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt to demand feminist climate justice at the 27th UN climate change conference (COP27).

Importantly, the 2022 climate negotiations were back on the African continent after six years. 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. This includes heeding and centering the leadership of African women and girls.

WEDO co-convenes the Women & Gender Constituency, one of the nine official civil society constituency groups under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The WGC works in collective to coordinate the views and demands of women’s rights, gender equality and feminist organizations within the UNFCCC process. It is comprised of 34 official organizational members and more than 600 individuals.

Read through to learn more about WEDO and Women & Gender Constituency highlights from COP27:

*All times in Egypt time zone

Monday, 7 November

→ 10:00 – 10:30, Press Conference Room Luxor: African Women & Girls Demand Climate Justice

Photo by WEDO

“When we talk about delivering climate justice for vulnerable populations and regions, we start with the premise that for communities that are rendered poor and made vulnerable owing to the conditions of the global political economy, colonialism, extractivism, capitalism, climate justice means land sovereignty, housing, food sovereignty, healthcare, mobility, and effectively self determination.” – Zukiswa White, Women & Gender Constituency

• Watch the complete press conference here.
• Selected media highlight: AllAfrica.com: The 27 Demands African Women Want Addressed at COP27

Friday, 11 November

→ 14:00 – 14:30, Press Conference Room Luxor: Accelerating a Feminist Green New Deal

“I hope we can use this space today to really speak to some of the connections between movements for justice in the US and in this global space, and how the US based racial, economic, and gender justice advocates are understanding how the US government and delegation must show up in this space, conscious and accountable to our role as the world’s largest historical emitter – a country resistant to real action and real distribution of resources, and who still drives forward systemic militarism and imperialism in our policies, actions, and impact.” – Mara Dolan, WEDO & Green New Deal Coalition

Watch the complete press conference here.

Saturday, 12 November

→ 13:15 – 14:45, Room Amon: Delivering climate justice to vulnerable populations and regions (Launch of African Women’s and Girls’ Demands for COP27)

Photo: UNFCCC

“When we talk about delivering climate justice for vulnerable populations and regions, we start with the premise that for communities that are rendered poor and made vulnerable owing to the conditions of the global political economy, colonialism, extractivism, capitalism, climate justice means land sovereignty, housing, food sovereignty, healthcare, mobility, and effectively self determination.” – Zukiswa White, Women & Gender Constituency

Watch the complete launch here.

→ 16:45 – 18:25, Room Amon: Feminist Speak Out! WEDO, WILPF, Women and Gender Constituency

Photo: Annabelle Avril, WECF International

“The time is ticking. And it is not a luxury that we have to continue negotiating. It is time to act. And act really fast.” – Tamani Rarama, Women & Gender Constituency

Watch the complete event here.

Monday, 14 November

→ 09:30 – 10:30, NDC Pavilion: Feminist Foreign Policy and Human Rights: A Pathway to Climate Justice, Government of Mexico, WEDO

Photo: WEDO

“Feminist Foreign Policy should be working towards demilitarization – which is fueling the Climate Crisis, continually investing needed resources towards violence and extraction, and deepening crises of violence & inequality faced by women & girls around the world.” – Alexandria Gordon, WEDO

Watch the complete Side Event here.

→ 17:00 – 17:40, Climate Action Hub: Gender Just Climate Solutions Award Ceremony

Photo: Annabelle Avril, WECF International

• Watch the complete ceremony here.
• Selected media highlight: The Express Tribune: Javed Hussain becomes first Pakistani to win Gender Just Climate Solution Award

Other Events

Monday, 14 November

→ 12:15 – 13:15, Climate Justice Pavilion, The Feminist Agenda for a Green New Deal, FemGND Coalition

→ 16:30 – 18:00, LGMA Multilevel Action Pavilion: Future Leaders Network & Women Delegates Fund, Scottish Government

→ 19:00 – 20:30, African Pavilion: Standing in our Power: African Women and Girls Gender Day Celebration (Networking Event)

Wednesday, 16 November

→ 15:00 – 16:30, LGMA Multilevel Action Pavilion: The inclusion of women and girls in climate action and financing, Scottish Government

First and foremost, COP27 is a critical moment for African leadership, and specifically African feminist leadership, in shaping and demanding calls for climate justice.

Help us amplify African Women’s and Girls’ Demands: 

• Press Release: More than 150 African Women and Girls Launch Demands Ahead of UN Climate Conference – COP27 in Egypt
• Read and download the full demands reports in English, French, Arabic, Portuguese and Swahili.

In addition to bolstering the regional demands from the African Feminist Taskforce (a collective of members within and beyond the Constituency) the Women & Gender Constituency (WGC) has launched a set of collective demands for climate justice.