Climate crisis: greatest intergenerational and gender injustice of our time
15 November 2024Bold climate action is needed at COP29 to address the disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable and secure a just future for all.
Youth advocate Gloria speaking at COP29. Photo credit: Plan International.
At the halfway point of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the stakes for children and future generations have never been higher. This statement reflects on the urgent need for bold climate action to address the disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable, especially girls, and to secure a just and sustainable future for all.
The stakes are high at COP29 for today’s children and future generations. The climate crisis affects them the most. Over one billion children are at extreme risk from the impacts of the climate crisis, which continues to limit development opportunities and exacerbate humanitarian crises around the globe.
Girls lead call for investment
“Without ambitious financial commitments from low-income countries at COP29, our future as young people, especially girls and young women, will be compromised.”
Gloria, 24, youth advocate from Uganda.
The climate crisis is experienced by girls in low-income country contexts in the form of growing inequality, hunger and food insecurity, reduced access to education and health services, the erosion of livelihoods and increased gender-based violence.
During the first week at COP29, youth advocates working with Plan International have been actively engaged. On the issue of climate finance, Gloria, a 24-year-old from Uganda said, “Without ambitious financial commitments from low-income countries at COP29, our future as young people, especially girls and young women, will be compromised. Countries need to agree on a bold finance target. Let’s act now.”
Climate policies must support vulnerable communities
The momentum continues to build as we enter the second week of this pivotal conference. At COP29, we are calling for children’s rights to be upheld in climate policies, with a focus on the disproportionate impact on girls.
We are also calling for the increase of climate finance for gender and intergenerational justice as part of the New Collective Quantified Goal, which aims to set a global funding target to address the needs of the most vulnerable communities in the face of escalating climate challenges.
Plan is also calling for the prioritisation of gender in all United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes, with a specific focus on girls.
“We know that the quantity of climate finance needed is in the trillions. But research shows that this target is not only needed, but achievable. What we need is the political will to make this commitment at COP29. Plan International believes the climate crisis is the greatest intergenerational and gender injustice of our time”, said Soumya Guha, Plan International’s Director of Programmes.
Categories: Emergencies
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