EEU countries must step up to implement gender-responsive climate change policies, says a group of civil society organizations on the occasion of the European Development Days and World Environment Day

Brussels, 5 June. On the occasion of the European Development Days (EDD) and World Environment Day, CARE International, CIDSE, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, ACT Alliance EU, WWF and GenderCC-Women for Climate Justice urge the European Union to step up its ambition in climate action. The organizations jointly highlight the need to pursue the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C in the context of this year’s EDD’s theme, “Women and girls at the forefront of sustainable development.” Achieving this goal globally would substantially reduce harmful climate change impacts which exacerbate gender inequality and cause huge economic losses, impeding sustainable development efforts. Transforming existing power structures is key to effectively combatting climate change and to entering a gender- and climate-just future.

The six organizations state:
“Climate change impacts, such as droughts, floods, and heat waves, already exacerbate poverty and gender inequality, with millions of women and girls suffering despite current action to cope with these impacts. The present EU emission reduction targets are insufficient to prevent a temperature rise above 1.5°C. Additionally, current solutions, such as the rapid acceleration of renewable energy use and protecting ecosystems, must be gender-responsive and deliver substantial sustainable development benefits, including for the poorest people."

"We urge the political leaders of the EU and its Member States in their ministerial and leaders’ meetings in June to commit to move beyond the current target of 40% CO2 reductions by 2030. Leaders must also nationally implement the recently adopted UNFCCC Gender Action Plan and increase financial support in developing countries for women and girl’s efforts to adapt to and mitigate harmful climate change impacts.”

Action at EDD:
#StepUp2018 for 1.5°C: 0 emissions, 0 poverty, 0 gender inequality.
Action at 10:00 am, June 5, at the Tour de Taxis, Brussels.
Link to photos following the action: http://bit.ly/1o5CPhotos

For further information and interview requests, please contact:
Camilla Schramek, Climate Change Communications Officer for CARE International
[email protected] or +45 50 22 92 88