The 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women have called for a radical shift towards gender-responsive climate policies and actions because women and girls are being disproportionately impacted by the crisis.
“We heard in the earlier parallel session on the impacts of higher global temperatures on women’s reproductive health, on their roles as caregivers, on their livelihoods, on the rates of gender-based violence,” Marshall Islands’ Minister for Culture and Internal Affairs, Jess Gasper Jr said. “In the Marshall Islands, we see very important links between the health of women and girls, early childhood development and climate change.”
The conference emphasised the necessity of meaningful participation of women and girls in climate policy design and implementation. This included increased education and awareness among young people about the gendered impacts of climate change.
Gasper shared the Marshall Islands’ proactive approach, highlighting recent discussions uniting health officials, local government, and climate experts.
“We believe that this integration will be critical to supporting adaptations and resilience in our communities, particularly for women and girls, parents and caregivers,” he said.
“We must also address the unique challenges faced by the women and girls with disabilities, ensuring their needs are included in all health and climate-related initiatives.”
Conference participants also emphasised the need for investment in culturally responsive data collection and analysis to better understand the specific ways in which climate change affects women and girls differently.
This data can then be used to inform gender-responsive budgeting and policies that are integrated into all aspects of climate change and disaster risk management.
Additionally, the conference addressed the issue of technology-facilitated harmful representations of women, which can hinder women’s progress in leadership positions.
Participants called for support from regional organisations like the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to help Pacific Island countries and territories take stock of their progress on gender equality and identify areas for improvement.
By prioritising gender-responsive approaches and the meaningful participation of women and girls, the conference aims to create a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
