Climate change is the defining challenge of our time and poses a critical threat to our future. Girls and women are disproportionately affected by climate change due to the existing gender inequality which worsens their vulnerability. Despite the fact that they can play a vital role in responding to environmental degradation and climate change, they are often excluded from relevant wider discourse, and their participation in decision-making is limited. This further undermines their ability to influence measures designed to address climate change and environmental degradation.
As the leading voluntary organization for girls and young women, with 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 153 countries, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), believes that girls and young women must participate at all levels of decision making and in the design, delivery and implementation of all relevant environmental programmes to shape a sustainable and equal future for all. To let the world know that if we are to solve the climate crisis, we need to #BringInTheGirls.
WAGGGS' Key Demands:
- Invest in resilient, gender-transformative, climate justice education.
- Support women entrepreneurs and income-generating opportunities to enhance their financial resilience.
- Support women entrepreneurs and income-generating opportunities to enhance their financial resilience.
- Ensure equitable access to resources and decision-making power for girls and young women in vulnerable communities.
- Ensure access to land, water, and sanitation rights in all climate action.
- Integrate gender-responsive policies and frameworks in climate adaptation and loss and damage strategies.
Read the full WAGGGS Key Demands to COP29. These were presented at COP30 and will continue to guide our advocacy work on climate change.
