6 June, Ottawa. Trade disputes must not overshadow G7 commitments to support women and girls on the front lines of climate change, warns international humanitarian agency CARE International. The G7 leaders’ summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, on 8-9 June will include representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission to represent the EU.
Sven Harmeling, Global Policy Lead Climate Change and Resilience with CARE International, says: “Women and girls are hit hardest by climate change and are critical to building more resilient communities worldwide. The G7 have a particular responsibility to bring down harmful greenhouse gas emissions and support those most affected. They must not fall behind past commitments for the sake of a weak compromise.”
Shaughn MacArthur, Advocacy and Government Relations Advisor with CARE Canada, says: “Canada’s G7 Presidency has advanced an agenda that puts women and girls at the centre of efforts to tackle climate change. We welcome the Gender Equality Advisory Council report, calling on gender-responsive climate financing by the G7, and efforts to pay more attention to gender equality in the G7-initiated InsuResilience initiative. However, it is vital that geopolitics among the G7 do not impede progress on climate finance. They must stick to their agenda, step up gender-responsive climate finance, and agree on coordinated and bold actions that can deliver real change for those most affected.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put gender equality at the centre of Canada’s G7 presidency, which has yielded important outcomes in the buildup to the G7 leaders’ summit. These include Ministerial declarations and statements on topics including gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in crisis; promoting domestic and international measures to address violence and harassment in the workplace; and pursuing new tools to help people in the world’s most vulnerable communities withstand the impacts of extreme weather events.
To arrange an interview with a CARE spokesperson, please contact:
Camilla Schramek
Communications Manager | CARE Climate Change & Resilience Platform (CCRP) [email protected] | +45 50 22 92 88