For immediate release – On Tuesday, October 26, Osprey Orielle Lake, Founder and Executive Director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) delivered an urgent call to action during the one-day High-level Thematic Debate: “Delivering Climate Action: for People, Planet & Prosperity," held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event was hosted by Abdulla Shahid, UN President of the General Assembly, from the Republic of Maldives, to call for hope and ambition in the lead up to COP26.

In the context of government commitments to date leading to a catastrophic 2.7 degree rise in global temperature by the end of the century, and governments continuing to increase fossil fuel expansion, Lake asked: "Where are the government leaders willing to stand up to the fossil fuel industry? And, where is the $100 billion a year promised from wealthy countries so we can move toward a just transition? We can move billions once we claim a global climate emergency — and pulling from military budgets is a good place to begin."

WECAN's intervention at the United Nations comes as governments, financial institutions, and civil society prepare to attend the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. Please see Lake's full speech at the links below:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/eBRznlaNvaE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WECAN.Intl/videos/220399563523982

During her intervention, Lake presented a Call to Action Statement  from the recent Global Women's Assembly for Climate Justice. The Call to Action was signed by 150 organizations representing millions of people globally. It outlines action steps for governments and financial institutions to meet the 1.5 degree target laid out in the Paris Climate Agreement within climate justice frameworks.

WECAN will be attending COP26 in Glasgow, if you are interested in learning more about our events and delegation please contact katherine@wecaninternational.org.