As the world prepares for COP27 during the UN General Assembly and Climate Week in September, global climate justice movements are demanding governments and financial institutions take urgent climate action. Climate chaos and injustices continue to proliferate globally due to the interconnected systems of patriarchy, capitalism, racism, the commodification of nature, colonialism, and imperialism. To confront deepening interlocking crises and accelerate a path forward, women are collectively upholding and working to advance just and resilient community-led solutions.
WECAN will be on the ground in New York City during Climate Week 2022 supporting and organizing with women leaders globally for events, actions, and organizing opportunities. If you’d like to join us, please see the following public events hosted by WECAN and our colleagues.
WECAN Climate Justice Forum: Facing the Climate Emergency on the Road to COP27: Solutions and Perspective from Global Women and Gender Diverse Leaders
Please join us from September 20-22, 2022 for a three-day forum, hosting virtual and in-person events during climate week in New York City! During this three-day forum, grassroots, Indigenous, Black, Brown, and frontline women and gender diverse leaders, global advocates, and policy-makers will join together 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 Forum is an inclusive space across identities and the gender spectrum, and there will be both in-person and virtual events. Registration is required for each event. For the in-person events you will be taken to an Eventbrite page to register for both events at the same time. To respect elders and immuno-compromised persons, masks are required for in-person events. Thank you for your understanding. Please register for each event at the link below!
African Feminist Perspectives on COP27 and Beyond
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
12:00 pm - 1:30pm Eastern Time USA
Virtual event via Zoom, Register here.
As the world prepares for COP27 in Egypt during the UN General Assembly and Climate Week, African feminist leaders are calling for a different path forward demanding urgent climate action from governments centered on justice and rights. During this event we will hear from women leaders from Africa sharing struggles, analysis, solutions and successful on the ground projects for climate justice.
Speakers Include: Neema Namadamu, Founder, Synergy of Congolese Women’s Associations (SAFECO), and Democratic Republic of Congo Coordinator, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), DR Congo; Rita Uwaka, Forest & Biodiversity Program Coordinator, Friends of the Earth Africa (FoEA), Nigeria; Sostine Namanya, Gender & Food Security Projects Officer, National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), Uganda; Anne Songole, Climate Justice Coordinator, The African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET), Kenya; Comments and Moderation by Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN).
Women for Climate Justice: Solutions and Perspectives on the Road to COP27
Wednesday, September 21, 5:00 - 8:00pm ET
Church Center of the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017.
In-person event, Register here.
To respect elders and immuno-compromised persons, masks are required for in-person events. Thank you for your understanding.
During this event, grassroots, Indigenous, Black, Brown, and frontline women and gender diverse leaders, global advocates, and policy-makers will share perspectives and analysis on the climate crisis and COP27 and how we can confront deepening interlocking crises and accelerate a path forward, advancing just and resilient community-led solutions.
Speakers Include: Thilmeeza Hussain, Permanent Representative to the United Nations & Ambassador to the United States from the Maldives; Jacqui Patterson, Founder and Executive Director, The Chisholm Legacy Project, USA; Diana Duarte, Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement, MADRE, USA; Farhana Yamin, Associate Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme Chatham House, UK; Jade Begay (Diné / Tesuque Pueblo), Climate Justice Campaign Director, NDN Collective, Turtle Island; and Comments and moderation by Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director.
Women Land Defenders on the Frontlines of Biodiversity Protection and Climate Action
Wednesday, September 21, 5:00 - 8:00pm ET
Church Center of the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017.
In-person event, Register here.
To respect elders and immuno-compromised persons, masks are required for in-person events. Thank you for your understanding.
During this event Indigenous and frontline leaders, and global advocates will highlight the challenges women face as land defenders, and also address securing human and Indigenous rights and how women are working to protect the global climate and diverse ecosystems in challenging political and economic contexts.
Speakers Include: Patricia Gualinga (Kichwa), Indigenous Leader and Spokeswoman, Mujeres Amazónicas Defensoras de la Selva, Ecuador; Lucy Mulenkei (Maasai), Executive Director, Indigenous Information Network, Kenya; Ozawa Bineshi Albert, Climate Justice Alliance Co-Executive Director, Turtle Island; Xiye Bastida (Otomi-Toltec), Co-founder and Board, Re-earth Initiative, Turtle Island; Comments and moderation by Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director.
Women Leading Fossil Fuel Divestment and Resistance
Thursday, September 22, 2022
1:00 - 2:15pm Eastern Time USA
Virtual event, Register here.
During the event, Frontline women and global advocates will share critical strategies for national and international divestment from harmful extractive industries, while calling for justice and accountability from financial institutions. WECAN will also be releasing our second edition of the report, “Gendered and Racial Impacts of the Fossil Fuel Industry and Complicit Financial Institutions.”
Speakers include: Roishetta Ozane, Community Organizer for Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas, Healthy Gulf; Gaagigeyaashiik - Dawn Goodwin, Ojibwe/White Earth; Representative/Indigenous Environmental Network and co-founder of R.I.S.E. Coalition; 1855 Treaty; Dr. Laalitha Surapaneni, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, General Internal Medicine; Jodie Evans, Co-founder, CODEPINK; Leila Salazar-López, Executive Director, Amazon Watch; Comments and Moderation by Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director.
During Climate Week, WECAN will also release the second edition of the report, Gendered and Racial Impacts of the Fossil Fuel Industry in North America and Complicit Financial Institutions. Learn more here.
Events & Actions with Partners and Colleagues
Please join us throughout climate week for the following events coordinated or co-hosted by WECAN in collaboration with partners and colleagues. We are also spotlighting special events by partners.
Thursday, September 22, 9:45am ET | Protect Communities and our Climate: Rally to Demand BlackRock Stop Investing in Climate Chaos. In-person action at BlackRock Headquarters, 55 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10055. RSVP and learn more here.
We are honored to co-sponsor and participate in this action with other esteemed organizations.
Thursday, September 22, 3:30pm ET | Climate Justice Movements Disrupt Business As Usual at COP27. In-person event at The New School. RSVP and learn more here.
We are honored to co-sponsor and participate in this event with other esteemed organizations.
Friday, September 23 | Fridays for Future Global Climate Strike in New York City. Learn more. If you want to march with a Women for Climate Justice Contingent please meet us by 1:30 pm at Think Coffee, located at 350 Broadway, New York, NY 10013, on the corner of Broadway and Leonard. We’ll gather here, and then walk to the march together. Nearby trains include: 1, 2, 3; N, Q, R; 4, 5, 6; E.
Tuesday, September 20 | Women of the territory: Together we heal Mother Earth, hosted by Global Alliance of Territorial Communities at 136 E 24th St.
Wednesday, September 21, 4:00 - 5:30pm | Screening of Helena from Sarayaku Film at Tishman Auditorium, NYU Law School, 63 5th Ave, New York, NY 10003.