Feminist Leadership Will Lead us to Equitable Climate Solutions

For immediate release – The Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice (Sept 25-30th) is a virtual, international forum hosted by the Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network (WECAN) International. As climate disasters worsen everyday, climate movements worldwide are increasing the pressure on governments and financial institutions to take immediate climate action.

The gender-inclusive sessions are designed for people to come together to discuss what inclusive and equitable climate action looks like and to build momentum for the crucial United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP26 in November in Glasgow. This assembly takes place in parallel to the UN General Assembly, which is the last time governments will meet in the lead up to COP26.

Assembly Convener and Founder of WECAN, Osprey Orielle Lake says, “We are at a choice point for humanity. The most recent IPCC report confirms what we already knew to be true—with no significant action, the climate crisis will continue to escalate quickly. Everyday, we can see for ourselves forest fires burning, massive flooding, extreme droughts, people losing their livelihoods and lives— we are in a global climate emergency. As the world prepares for one of the most important climate talks since the Paris Agreement, we know solutions exist, and that women and feminists are leading the way."

The Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice provides a platform to elevate the voices of women and gender-diverse leaders across the world. A primary focus of the assembly is to release a call to action for global climate justice that feminist advocates and activists will deliver to governments and financial institutions during the UN General Assembly and will also bring to COP26. The six-day event will host 20 panels with more than 90 speakers representing 40 countries and will offer 4 different language translations and is available for live stream globally.

The assembly will call for urgent action within a climate justice framework, produce an online collection of actions and policy frameworks, and present a diverse array of solutions.

Attendees will hear from the following leaders, and the full list of speakers can be found here:

• Hilda Heine, Former President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Marshall Islands

• Sônia Bone Guajajara (Guajajara), Executive Coordinator, Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), Brazil

• Dr. Jane Goodall, Scientist, Conservationist, and Humanitarian, UK

• Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca Nation), Environmental Ambassador, WECAN Board Member, USA

• Ruth Nyambura, Kenyan Activist, African Ecofeminist Collective, Kenya

• Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland, Ireland

• Naomi Klein, Award-winning Journalist and New York Times Bestselling Author, Canada

• Helena Gualinga (Kichwa), Climate and Indigenous Rights Youth Activist, Sarayaku, Ecuador

• Colette Pichon Battle, Executive Director, Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy, USA

• Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Convenor and International Spokesperson, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP), The Philippines

• Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate, Co-founder, the Nobel Women’s Initiative, USA

• Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network, USA

MORE INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA

For media inquiries about the Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice, contact Markeya Thomas at markeya@wecaninternational.org and Katherine Quaid at katherine@wecaninternational.org.

For more information and to register, visit https://www.wecaninternational.org/womens-assembly.

A press event leading up to the assembly is scheduled for September 21st at 2pm ET (1pm CT/11am PT). Media and other members must register for the event in order to attend. Register for the press event here.

ABOUT THE GLOBAL WOMEN’S CLIMATE ASSEMBLY FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

The Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice will bring together grassroots, Indigenous, Black, Brown, and frontline women leaders, global advocates, and policy-makers in solidarity to speak out against environmental and social injustice, draw attention to root causes of multiple interlocking crises, and present the diverse array of visions, projects, policy frameworks and strategies with which they are working to shape a healthy and equitable world. The Assembly is an inclusive space across identities and the gender spectrum.