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The urban network C40 is to increase female leadership roles in climate change

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The urban network C40 is to increase female leadership roles in climate change

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By Jack Aldane

Visitors to the COP22 climate change summit in Marrakesh Morocco arrived early this morning to hear five female leaders discuss a global need for more women to influence the fight against global warming. Anne Hidalgo, Chair-elect of the urban network C40 Cities and Mayor of Paris, began the Women4Climate session by announcing C40’s initiative to put more women in decision-making roles on issues relating to climate change. The official launch of the initiative will take place at the C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City, which lasts from 30 November until 2 December 2016.

“Let’s avoid the next generation of girls having the same difficulties we’ve faced,” she said. Joining Hidalgo on the panel was Patricia Espinosa, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Laurence Tubiana, French Ambassador for climate change negotiations, Dr Hakima El Haite, minister in charge of environment for Morocco and Celestine Ketcha-Courtes, the Mayor of Bangangte. Dr El Haite said women represent a crucial voice in directing talks around climate change, because they alone represent “the most vulnerable groups when it comes to natural disasters”. She said that in rural Africa, girls that are routinely sent to collect water rather than to school are exposed daily to the damage done to their environment through global CO2 emissions. She added: “We have been to numerous meetings, and of course we want the powerful women there to be involved, but we also want the victims of natural disasters to be involved.”

According to figures gathered by iknowpolitics.org, an international network of female leader-sourced data, in terms of local government, countries with the highest proportion of female mayors include Mauritius (40 percent), New Zealand (26 percent) Serbia 26 (percent), and Latvia (25 percent). The highest proportion of female mayors across the entire globe however remains that of China. Espinosa said some progress on female roles within climate-conscious communities can be found in rural India, where women participate in renewable solar projects that teach them valuable business skills and produce sources of renewable light that enable them to study at night.

The panel closed with audience questions about the impact that the election of Donald Trump to president-elect in US could have on future climate change negotiations between countries particularly given that the US may have elected its first female president. Trump has been vocal in dismissing climate change and has claimed he’ll attempt to “cancel” the COP21 Paris Agreement drawn up in December 2015. Hidalgo said the outcome of the election “worried” her because the president-elect “is surrounded by climate-sceptic people”. However, she added “We the mayors are going to say [the COP21] agreement will come into force. It is the future of planet that is a stake.” So far, 105 of the total 197 parties to the convention have ratified the Paris Agreement.

Source: Cities Today

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By Jack Aldane

Visitors to the COP22 climate change summit in Marrakesh Morocco arrived early this morning to hear five female leaders discuss a global need for more women to influence the fight against global warming. Anne Hidalgo, Chair-elect of the urban network C40 Cities and Mayor of Paris, began the Women4Climate session by announcing C40’s initiative to put more women in decision-making roles on issues relating to climate change. The official launch of the initiative will take place at the C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City, which lasts from 30 November until 2 December 2016.

“Let’s avoid the next generation of girls having the same difficulties we’ve faced,” she said. Joining Hidalgo on the panel was Patricia Espinosa, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Laurence Tubiana, French Ambassador for climate change negotiations, Dr Hakima El Haite, minister in charge of environment for Morocco and Celestine Ketcha-Courtes, the Mayor of Bangangte. Dr El Haite said women represent a crucial voice in directing talks around climate change, because they alone represent “the most vulnerable groups when it comes to natural disasters”. She said that in rural Africa, girls that are routinely sent to collect water rather than to school are exposed daily to the damage done to their environment through global CO2 emissions. She added: “We have been to numerous meetings, and of course we want the powerful women there to be involved, but we also want the victims of natural disasters to be involved.”

According to figures gathered by iknowpolitics.org, an international network of female leader-sourced data, in terms of local government, countries with the highest proportion of female mayors include Mauritius (40 percent), New Zealand (26 percent) Serbia 26 (percent), and Latvia (25 percent). The highest proportion of female mayors across the entire globe however remains that of China. Espinosa said some progress on female roles within climate-conscious communities can be found in rural India, where women participate in renewable solar projects that teach them valuable business skills and produce sources of renewable light that enable them to study at night.

The panel closed with audience questions about the impact that the election of Donald Trump to president-elect in US could have on future climate change negotiations between countries particularly given that the US may have elected its first female president. Trump has been vocal in dismissing climate change and has claimed he’ll attempt to “cancel” the COP21 Paris Agreement drawn up in December 2015. Hidalgo said the outcome of the election “worried” her because the president-elect “is surrounded by climate-sceptic people”. However, she added “We the mayors are going to say [the COP21] agreement will come into force. It is the future of planet that is a stake.” So far, 105 of the total 197 parties to the convention have ratified the Paris Agreement.

Source: Cities Today

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Focus areas