New York – The Rockefeller Foundation awarded a grant on September 26 to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat to launch “Momentum for Change: Women for Results”, an initiative to showcase the active role that women play in addressing climate change. The three-year grant will support activities to inform governments, media and the public at large about the role of women in solving climate change.
Momentum for Change: Women for Results builds upon the results of “Momentum for Change: Urban Poor”, which was launched during last year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, to highlight public-private partnerships addressing climate change that benefit the urban poor.
“I am convinced that highlighting activities which are led by women will help governments, international development agencies, civil society and the public at large to understand that action on the ground is already happening, and will act as a catalyst to encourage others to take action to address climate change,” said UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres. “I am excited to be working with the Rockefeller Foundation in helping to make the case that women are an essential part of the solution to addressing climate change.”
Women are, and are likely to continue to be, disproportionately impacted by climate change, as they are most affected by climate change impacts, such as droughts, floods and other extreme weather events.
Women are also caught without access to reliable sources of energy, and as a result, nearly 2.4 billion women use traditional biomass fuels or cook over health-threatening open fires. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to indoor air pollution is responsible for nearly two million deaths – primarily of women and children – from cancer, respiratory infections and lung diseases. The use of environmentally-friendly energy sources would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide better and safer access to energy. The use of efficient energy systems at the household level (e.g., solar cooking stoves and ovens) can reduce emissions and harness the potential of women as actors in the overall solution to climate change.
“Women are often the most likely to suffer as a result of climate change, but are also often on the front lines to responding to these impacts for their homes and their families,” said Dr. Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation. “As we see our changing climate increasingly impacting livelihoods, from food security to health, from poverty to education, it is critical that we work together to build the resilience of the poorest and most vulnerable populations, especially women and girls. The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat around the critical role women play in addressing climate change.”
Momentum for Change: Women for Results will be formally launched on December 5 during the next United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar.
About Momentum for Change
Momentum for Change aims to create a public platform that raises awareness about concrete mitigation and adaptation actions being implemented by a wide range of stakeholders at regional, national, or local level. Momentum for Change seeks to demonstrate the multiple benefits of addressing climate change and to transform misperceptions surrounding taking action on climate change.
Source: UNFCCC.
