COP11/CMP1 in Montreal: A comprehensive gender strategy

A shift in women’s activities was achieved in Montreal at COP11/CMP1. In preparation for the conference, a strategy paper was drafted by LIFE and WECF, identifying possible entry points for gender aspects in the climate change debate. Women engaged in three complementary activities:

• Raising awareness and disseminating information via an exhibition booth ‘gender – justice – climate’, two ‘Climate Talk’ events and a statement in plenary;
• Building women’s capacity and joint strategizing on gender mainstreaming in climate policy via women’s caucus meetings; and
• Developing a future research agenda and initiating a gender and climate change research network via convening a research workshop.

These activities helped kick-start a new era in women’s involvement and gender issues in the UNFCCC process. After almost ten years of discontinuous and uncoordinated participation by women’s organizations, the path from COP1 has finally been picked up again.

Women's activities in Montreal included:

A series of strategy meetings on gender & climate change were hold, aiming to built cpapcity, to prepare mainstreaming gender into the current UNFCCC negotiations and for future activities relating to a post-2012 regime at UNFCCC. The meetings were attended by about 20 women on average.

In order to continue discussions and to share gender knowledge in between the conferences and meeting, a mailing list gender_cc was set up.

A statement on gender and climate change was drafted by the participants which was distributed in the plenary. 

A booth "gender - climate - justice"  providing information on gender and climate change mitigation and adaptation and serving as a meeting point for discussions related to these issues with participants and delegates.

A workshop "Gender and Climate Change: What Do We Know? What Do We Need to Find Out?" was organised, aiming to develop a research agenda on gender and climate change. A workshop report is available.

Two Climate Talks on gender and climate change were given at the UNFCCC secretariats climate kiosk and webcasted to the UNFCCC website.

The first one was given by Minu Hemmati and Ulrike Roehr on behalf of Life e.V. and WECF (Women in Europe for a Common Future). Their topic: "Gender and Climate Change: Why it makes a difference".

In the second one Lena Sommestad, Minister of the Environment of Sweden, and Rejoice Mabuda-Fahsi, Deputy Minister of South Africa, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, presented on behalf of the Network of Women Ministers for the Environment "Women, Men and Climate Change: Government Action". 

Finally, for the first time in a UNFCCC conference, a statement on behalf of 'women' was given in the plenary. Minu Hemmati (LIFE/WECF) spoke on behalf of those women who gathered at COP 11 in Montreal.