COP29 Conflict: Vatican’s Stance on Gender Rights Provokes Criticism

At COP29, a dispute arose between the Vatican and other nations over gender rights, obstructing discussions aimed at supporting women impacted by climate change. Colombia’s environment minister criticized the Vatican’s stance, aligning with Saudi Arabia and others against critical updates to the Lima Work Programme on Gender. Charities emphasize the importance of a deal, as women represent a significant majority of those affected by climate change. The lack of female representation in negotiations further complicates the situation as the deadline approaches for renewing gender-focused UN initiatives.

At the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, a significant disagreement has surfaced involving the Vatican and several countries regarding gender rights. Reports indicate that Pope Francis’ representatives aligned with Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and Egypt to obstruct discussions aimed at enhancing women’s support related to climate change. Colombia’s environment minister articulated concerns about the stalled negotiations, emphasizing the urgency, as women and girls currently represent 80% of those displaced by climate change. The Vatican’s opposition to the term “gender”—over fears it may encompass transgender issues—has stalled an update to the decade-old Lima Work Programme on Gender, which aims to ensure that climate responses adequately consider women’s experiences and needs. Charity organizations, including ActionAid, underscore the necessity of a deal, given that women bear a disproportionately high burden from climate challenges.

The backdrop to this controversy is the UN’s ongoing recognition for over a decade that climate change significantly impacts women, particularly concerning roles associated with caregiving and reproductive health services during crises. Current predictions by UN Women suggest that by 2050, climate change will exacerbate food insecurity for 240 million additional women and girls compared to 131 million more men and boys. The proposal from African and EU countries sought to clarify that experiences of climate impact can vary widely among women based on gender, age, and race, yet the Vatican and its allies firmly resisted this inclusion.

Sostina Takure, part of the Christian charity ACT Alliance, expressed dismay over the Vatican’s shift in position, and Mwanahamisi Singano from the Women’s Environment and Development Organization noted that countries like Iran resisted language acknowledging gay women due to differing legal frameworks surrounding homosexuality. The deadlock on gender rights highlights a broader global trend against women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, complicating the prospect of a cohesive deal on gender and climate relations. Stakeholders, such as Zahra Hdidou from ActionAid, have noted that an absence of women in negotiations further undermines outcomes, emphasizing a need for their voices to be represented effectively. Furthermore, the expiration of the existing UN gender program underscores the critical nature of COP29 negotiations for women globally.

The conflict at COP29 arises within the context of longstanding international recognition that women disproportionately face adverse impacts from climate change. The Lima Work Programme on Gender, established a decade ago, was designed to ensure that gender considerations are integrated into climate policies and that women receive adequate resources and support. Despite the acknowledgment of their pivotal role in climate adaptation and sustainability, the current summit reveals significant resistance from key nations against references to gender, primarily influenced by apprehensions surrounding inclusivity of transgender and same-sex issues. This impasse not only threatens the progress made in integrating women’s needs into climate action but also reflects a concerning trend of a backlash against gender rights globally.

The ongoing dispute at COP29 over gender rights, driven by the Vatican and several allied nations, underscores the urgency of addressing the differentiated impacts of climate change on women. The obstruction of discussions regarding the Lima Work Programme on Gender jeopardizes decades of advocacy aimed at supporting women in climate crises. As the deadline looms for renewing UN commitments addressing gender and climate, the lack of female representation in negotiations only exacerbates the risks of insufficiently addressing the realities faced by women worldwide. The outcome of these discussions at COP29 may set critical precedents for women’s rights and climate action for years to come.

Original Source: www.bbc.com