As women around the world are disproportionately impacted by the negative effects of climate change, it’s critical to work together to demand change.
On International Women’s Day, Oxfam continued our commitment of working at the intersection of climate justice and gender justice by hosting a three-day event in Washington, D.C. The event highlighted the importance of educating decision makers on the gendered impacts of climate change, celebrated women changemakers, and advocated for stronger support for women and girls from the Biden administration.
During the event, gender and climate advocates had the opportunity to learn from each other and identify how various justice movements can be stronger together. There were sessions on advocacy and organizing strategy, as well as economic justice. There were also lectures and panels involving experts who spoke on the relationship between climate, gender, and hunger relief, with an emphasis on the inclusion of care work and how leaders, like those who attended, can ensure a feminist just energy transition that prioritizes community care over carbon consumption.
Over 30 ambassadors from Oxfam’s women leadership partnership program, Sisters on the Planet, attended along with several guests and Oxfam partners who are working for climate, gender, and economic justice. Attendees also included noted documentary filmmaker Rachel Lears, Consultant Rania Beatrice, and actress Mishel Prada. By participating in the event, each person was able to expand their knowledge of gender and climate justice with the goal of applying it to their future advocacy work.
Oxfam America President and CEO Abby Maxman sat down with Rachel Lears to discuss the importance of storytelling and how it can help inform the public of the actions women leaders are taking to fight for gender and climate justice. In her new documentary To The End, Lears follows the courageous work of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, activist Varshini Prakash, climate policy writer Rhiana Gunn-Wright, and political strategist Alexandra Rojas as they work on the Green New Deal.
Many leaders are working every day to ensure progress is made with gender and climate justice. During the event, Oxfam honored women activists who have done outstanding work in their fields by presenting them with the Champions of Equality award. Recipients included documentary filmmaker Rachel Lears, attorney Colette Pichon Battle, Executive Director of Rights and Democracy Kiah Morris, Former Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, and US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
While education is important, it must be accompanied by action. After the lectures and panels, participants used what they had discussed to directly demand stronger action from the Biden administration to end the use of fossil fuels and support women in the face of the climate crisis. They met with eight different agencies and departments within the federal government and spoke directly with high-level officials, including members of the White House Gender Policy Council and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The meetings were so compelling that some resulted in requests for future discussions. The Department of Energy requested a follow-up meeting to review specific recommendations on solar energy in Puerto Rico and Brenda Mallory, chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, expressed her desire for Oxfam advocates and partners to meet with the technical staff to discuss upcoming rulemakings on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
While our attendees were putting pressure on the Biden administration, supporters were also playing their part. Oxfam led a delegation of women to deliver two letters signed by thousands of individuals who follow the work of Oxfam and wanted their voices heard. One letter was delivered to Chairwoman Brenda Mallory, to let her office know that Oxfam supporters are demanding that NEPA be protected and strengthened and that the US ends its reliance on fossil fuels.
The second letter was delivered to the office of US Climate Envoy John Kerry. It demanded that more action be taken to phase out dangerous fossil fuels and to support women across the world who have been negatively affected by climate change and who are leading the way to develop solutions. So far, it has been signed by 21,990 Oxfam supporters and advocates.
If you would like to join us in raising our voices for women against climate change, add your name to Oxfam’s sign-on letter