These Women are in Paris To Make Sure Female Voices are Heard During Climate Change Negotiations

Climate change disproportionately affects women.

08 March, 2018
These Women are in Paris To Make Sure Female Voices are Heard During Climate Change Negotiations

Climate change disproportionately affects women.

Bahrain

Name: Tamera Alhussaini

Age: 25

Organization/Occupation: Arab Youth Climate Movement, ecologist

"What people are maybe not aware of are that the impacts of [climate change] can specifically target groups of women. ... On the first day we got here, we were at a women and climate justice conference, and one of the women showed a video about all of the women who are specifically impacted in the Philippines during Hurricane Haiyan. That was a lightbulb moment — this is why."

1Bahrain

Name: Tamera Alhussaini

Age: 25

Organization/Occupation: Arab Youth Climate Movement, ecologist

"What people are maybe not aware of are that the impacts of [climate change] can specifically target groups of women. ... On the first day we got here, we were at a women and climate justice conference, and one of the women showed a video about all of the women who are specifically impacted in the Philippines during Hurricane Haiyan. That was a lightbulb moment — this is why."

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United States

Name: Caitrin McKierman

Age: 35

Organization/Occupation: Consulting attorney for the Center for International and Environmental Law

"Climate change disproportionally affects women, and as women we have responsibility to protect future generations."

2United States

Name: Caitrin McKierman

Age: 35

Organization/Occupation: Consulting attorney for the Center for International and Environmental Law

"Climate change disproportionally affects women, and as women we have responsibility to protect future generations."

Peru

Name: Maria Rodriguez

Age: 25

Organization/Occupation: Co-founder and Co-Coordinator of TierrActivaPeru

"Here at COP there were heads-of-state pictures, and ... it was mostly men. That's just a very graphic visual representation of the state of the world that we live in. We have 50/50 in terms of population but in terms of who has access to these decision-making roles, it's mostly men. Men and women, because we do have different roles assigned to us in society, have different perspectives on things. So when women don't have access to these decision-making roles then our perspectives aren't taken into account as much when these treaties are being negotiated."

3Peru

Name: Maria Rodriguez

Age: 25

Organization/Occupation: Co-founder and Co-Coordinator of TierrActivaPeru

"Here at COP there were heads-of-state pictures, and ... it was mostly men. That's just a very graphic visual representation of the state of the world that we live in. We have 50/50 in terms of population but in terms of who has access to these decision-making roles, it's mostly men. Men and women, because we do have different roles assigned to us in society, have different perspectives on things. So when women don't have access to these decision-making roles then our perspectives aren't taken into account as much when these treaties are being negotiated."

Kenya

Name: Edna Cartoyo

Age: 31

Organization/Occupation: Programmes Officer for Indigenous Information Network

"Women and girls are responsible for gathering water and fuel wood for household use, and with climate change this has become increasingly scarce and we face droughts. Climate change has also implications on health and inhibits the fundamentals requirements of good health, air, safe drinking water, and sufficient food. For example, the women and young girls are the first to be exposed to water-borne diseases which can affect their reproductive health and lead to high infant mortality and birth defects."

4Kenya

Name: Edna Cartoyo

Age: 31

Organization/Occupation: Programmes Officer for Indigenous Information Network

"Women and girls are responsible for gathering water and fuel wood for household use, and with climate change this has become increasingly scarce and we face droughts. Climate change has also implications on health and inhibits the fundamentals requirements of good health, air, safe drinking water, and sufficient food. For example, the women and young girls are the first to be exposed to water-borne diseases which can affect their reproductive health and lead to high infant mortality and birth defects."

Navajo Nation

Name: Wahleah Johns

Age: 40

Organization/Occupation: Black Mesa Water Coalition

"I think there's a lot we have in common as women, and we are the givers of life. We naturally have this innate responsibility for caring, whether it's our siblings our parents, our grandparents, our nieces and nephews, our brothers and sisters, there's this beautiful relationship that we also have with mother earth, and with water, and with nature."

5Navajo Nation

Name: Wahleah Johns

Age: 40

Organization/Occupation: Black Mesa Water Coalition

"I think there's a lot we have in common as women, and we are the givers of life. We naturally have this innate responsibility for caring, whether it's our siblings our parents, our grandparents, our nieces and nephews, our brothers and sisters, there's this beautiful relationship that we also have with mother earth, and with water, and with nature."

United States (originally from Australia)

Name: Prachi Rao

Age: 25

Organization/Occupation: Women's Environment and Development Organization

"We need more women advocates at the table. We need people that reflect policies that are gender sensitive and understand that women do have the right to be part of the decision making process. We need young women to feel like they should stand up and make these policies better, because we need better policies."

6United States (originally from Australia)

Name: Prachi Rao

Age: 25

Organization/Occupation: Women's Environment and Development Organization

"We need more women advocates at the table. We need people that reflect policies that are gender sensitive and understand that women do have the right to be part of the decision making process. We need young women to feel like they should stand up and make these policies better, because we need better policies."

Germany (originally from Australia)

Name: Kate Cahoon

Age: 27

Organization/Occupation: Project Coordinator for Gender CC - Women for Climate Justice

"We say to young women: Go out, learn about sciences. Learn about climate change. Try to understand how it works. Make a contribution. Push your leaders, and try to make a difference."

7Germany (originally from Australia)

Name: Kate Cahoon

Age: 27

Organization/Occupation: Project Coordinator for Gender CC - Women for Climate Justice

"We say to young women: Go out, learn about sciences. Learn about climate change. Try to understand how it works. Make a contribution. Push your leaders, and try to make a difference."

Saint Lucia

Name: Flavia Cherry

Age: 52

Organization/Occupation: Chairperson at Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action

"The Caribbean is at the front lines [of climate change]. We are in danger of literally disappearing off the face of the Earth. If that happens, it's just a matter of time before climate change takes over America too. So, we are all in this world together. There isn't anything about it impacting me and not impacting you."

8Saint Lucia

Name: Flavia Cherry

Age: 52

Organization/Occupation: Chairperson at Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action

"The Caribbean is at the front lines [of climate change]. We are in danger of literally disappearing off the face of the Earth. If that happens, it's just a matter of time before climate change takes over America too. So, we are all in this world together. There isn't anything about it impacting me and not impacting you."

Fiji

Name: Maria Nailevu

Age: 35

Organization/Occupation: Diva for Equality - Fiji

"For me, women are the most vulnerable community that becomes the victim of climate change. For us in the Pacific, women are very vulnerable. We rely on oceans and land for our survival, and because of climate change there has been so much that is under threat. Our livelihood is threatened, our environment, our nature. This doubles the burden on women, because now they have to work extra hard."


9Fiji

Name: Maria Nailevu

Age: 35

Organization/Occupation: Diva for Equality - Fiji

"For me, women are the most vulnerable community that becomes the victim of climate change. For us in the Pacific, women are very vulnerable. We rely on oceans and land for our survival, and because of climate change there has been so much that is under threat. Our livelihood is threatened, our environment, our nature. This doubles the burden on women, because now they have to work extra hard."


United States

Name: Bridget Burns

Age: 30

Organization/Occupation: Women's Environment and Development Organization

"We need young women to feel like they see an opportunity in creating new renewable energy systems: solar, wind farms, everything. This is a new frontier, and we need young women to be really engaged in that frontier."

10United States

Name: Bridget Burns

Age: 30

Organization/Occupation: Women's Environment and Development Organization

"We need young women to feel like they see an opportunity in creating new renewable energy systems: solar, wind farms, everything. This is a new frontier, and we need young women to be really engaged in that frontier."

Bahrain

Name: Reem Almealla

Age: 27

Occupation/Organization: Marine biologist

"Sometimes I feel really hopeless looking at the world, and how people just think about waking up in the morning, going to work, making that money, coming home, and that's it. So, the big question is: What is it that you're contributing to the world? Why are you here? What's your existence about? What's your legacy? I think if a person doesn't want to leave behind a good legacy that's quite sad."

11Bahrain

Name: Reem Almealla

Age: 27

Occupation/Organization: Marine biologist

"Sometimes I feel really hopeless looking at the world, and how people just think about waking up in the morning, going to work, making that money, coming home, and that's it. So, the big question is: What is it that you're contributing to the world? Why are you here? What's your existence about? What's your legacy? I think if a person doesn't want to leave behind a good legacy that's quite sad."

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