At the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, currently taking place in Azerbaijan, a significant barrier to discussions regarding women’s, and by extension, trans and LGBTQ+, rights has emerged. The Vatican, alongside nations such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and Egypt, has successfully blocked efforts to update the UN’s Lima Work Programme on Gender, which has been in place for a decade. The Lima Programme aims to ensure that climate action includes recognition and support for women, particularly in the context of climate impacts, which can differ greatly based on factors such as gender, age, sex, and race.
As the conference approaches its conclusion today (22 November), several participating countries sought to reinforce the inclusion of diverse female experiences in climate discussions. However, the Vatican and the aforementioned nations expressed opposition, voicing their concerns that these discussions might implicitly include provisions for transgender and gay women. The Vatican's position, as the smallest independent state in the world and a key representative of the Roman Catholic Church, carries significant weight within the conference's proceedings.
Colombia’s environment minister, Susana Muhamad, who is also the lead negotiator for her country, voiced her dissatisfaction with the Vatican's stance, declaring it “unacceptable”. In her comments, she expressed strong support for prioritising human rights within environmental dialogues. Similarly, Sostina Takure from the Christian charity ACT Alliance expressed her shock at the Vatican’s opposition to what she described as human rights language, lamenting the implications this stance holds for vulnerable populations.
A spokesperson for the Vatican clarified the Holy See’s position, stating that they hope for a consensus that respects the various sensitivities of participating states while also finding acceptable language that could be agreed upon. However, should the delegates fail to reach an agreement by the end of the conference, the existing UN plan on gender and climate will lapse. This could leave a significant void in formal support mechanisms for women disproportionately affected by climate impacts.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by alarming statistics from a report by UN Women, which indicates that by the year 2050, an estimated 240 million additional women and girls will experience food insecurity due to climate change, compared to 131 million additional men and boys. Additionally, the report predicts roughly 160 million women and girls will fall into extreme poverty due to climate-related issues, highlighting the critical intersection of gender and climate vulnerability.
Charitable organisations, including ActionAid, stress the importance of establishing an agreement at COP29, especially as current estimates suggest that women and girls comprise approximately 80% of individuals displaced by climate-related events. This perspective is further bolstered by research indicating that LGBTQ+ couples face unique challenges in the climate crisis, due in part to their likely residence in urban environments, coastal regions, and areas with inadequate infrastructure.
As discussions at COP29 unfold, the implications of the Vatican's and allied nations' positions on both women’s rights and the broader LGBTQ+ community remain significant. The stalling of an agreement could have far-reaching consequences for those whose lives are intricately tied to climate resilience and adaptation strategies.
Source: Noah Wire Services