Addressing the Cost of the Climate Crisis: WILPF US Takes a Stand

by Nancy Price and Cindy Piester
Co-chairs, Earth Democracy Issue Committee

October 2022

Cindy Piester will represent WILPF US and Earth Democracy’s Climate Justice+Women+Peace Project on the WILPF International Environmental Working Group’s delegation of 10 WILPF members heading to the UN COP 27 Climate Change Conference. COP 27 will be held in Sharm El Sheikh, north of Cairo, Egypt, on November 6 – 18, 2023. 

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) was founded two decades ago to raise awareness of the link between peace, the environment, and the adverse impacts of militarism. War and armed conflict negatively impact the environment and climate, and the EWG looks at the gendered dimensions of this issue, seeking feminist peace solutions.

The EWG will be discussing strategic messaging, materials for Sections to use to promote environmental advocacy, and demands for policy actions – these resources will be sent in an upcoming eAlert.

Advocacy and Action

September 23rd was the Global Day of Climate Action, when millions of young people took to the streets in their communities and cities as part of the international youth-led climate movement, led in part by the Fridays for Future network of youth organizers. Order your Climate Justice+Women+Peace banner for upcoming actions— along with other WILPF support materials like buttons, sashes, and brochures, at this link.

Over the next five weeks, youth, civil society, human rights, environmental and climate justice groups, indigenous peoples and people from frontline communities of the global south and island nations will be making their demands clear for COP 27: the planet’s warming must be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius/ 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100.

Addressing the Cost of the Climate Crisis: WILPF US Takes a Stand

Climate change is a global problem that requires a comprehensive multilateral approach to the stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions and CO2 and methane (a potent greenhouse gas) concentrations in the atmosphere. The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement is not legally binding, and has no enforcement mechanisms. Now COP 27 could be the last opportunity for official delegations of countries responsible for producing the most greenhouse gases to advocate for setting legally binding goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with mechanisms in place to enforce these limits.

Since the formation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the early 1990s, vulnerable countries have been calling on developed countries to provide financial assistance that can help them address loss and damage from climate impacts.

At COP 26 (2021) in Glasgow, funding to address loss and damage began to be more seriously discussed. So far, Canada, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, and the Belgium province of Wallonia have indicated some level of support.

At COP 27 in Egypt, the developed countries must agree on a mechanism to address this critical need, as they are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and must take responsibility for the damages incurred by countries in the Global South.

Climate Breakdown Looms

Many scientists warn that if developed countries do not increase their pledges and goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions (including methane), global temperatures will reach more than a 2 degree Celsius or 3.6 degree Fahrenheit warming.

As warming increases, we see these impacts:

1. Terrifying storms are more common.
2. Accelerating collapse of coral reefs that protect low-lying islands.
3. Melting ice floods areas and cities, raises sea levels along with the expansion of warmer ocean water.
4. Increased extreme heat, drought, and food insecurity can be expected.
5. Potential slowing down or disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning (Gulf Stream) bringing greater cold to North America and Europe is more likely.
6. Increased internal and external migrations, conflicts, wars.
7. Responsive policies that focus on women, children, disabled and elderly will be needed.

Earth Democracy proposes that the WILPF US Board discuss and support the following resolution, and that our members and branches discuss it locally to ensure that we are in agreement with the message WILPF US wants Cindy Piester to deliver to COP 27 on our behalf.

CODE RED for Humanity Resolution

Department of Defense and Global Military Emissions Reporting to the United Nations

WHEREAS: The US Department of Defense (DoD) is the world’s largest institutional producer of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and Scientists for Global Responsibility have estimated that about 6% of annual (GHG) emissions can be attributed to global militaries, yet the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) does not require mandatory military emissions reporting from militarized nations. When they are voluntarily reported, the UNFCCC protocols are woefully inadequate and difficult to navigate and fail to require military emissions to be reported fully or separately from other non-military emissions resulting in massive under-reporting. The extent of inclusion of military emissions and their reduction targets are not made clear in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) because they are not adequately disaggregated.

THEREFORE: BE IT RESOLVED, that WILPF US take immediate action to: Prepare and call for the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and all militarized nations to include military emissions and reduction targets as part of their annual NDC; call for a complete reporting of military emissions reporting to the UNFCCC by all nations be consistent with the 1.5 degrees Centigrade/2.7 degrees Fahrenheit target specified by the 2015 Paris Agreement.This means a commitment to making a shift to reporting mechanisms that are robust, comparable and transparent based on the GHG protocol, independently verified, and include both wider supply chain and war-related emissions. Reduction targets must reduce reliance on fossil fuels without turning to nuclear options and include reduction targets for military technology. Further pressure must be brought to bear on the UNFCCC to mandate, update, broaden, and clarify military emissions reporting protocols of all militarized governments as indicated.

A Regional Example Listens to the Voices of African Women

Because COP 27 meets in Egypt, the EWG is hosting several webinars featuring feminist activists and women human rights defenders who share lived experiences of the impacts of the climate crisis on the African continent.

The first webinar, “A Climate of Insecurity for COP 27— African Women Raising Their Voices for Feminist Climate Justice”, took place in August and may be viewed here.

In this talk, panelists share why the climate crisis is a feminist issue, and how it impacts and compounds other challenges in their region. Speakers shed light on the intersectional links between the climate crisis, gender, and issues such as conflict, food security, and livelihoods. With COP 27 taking place on the African continent, and droughts, wildfires, flooding, and soaring temperatures accelerating in their countries, the panelists share key demands for COP 27 to effectively address the climate crisis and alleviate the worst impacts on the African continent.

Panelists are: Aubine Sambou, WILPF Cameroon; Mpiwa Mangwiro, WILPF South Africa; Ayo Ayoola-Amale, WILPF Ghana; and Edwick Madzimure, WILPF Zimbabwe.

Please stay tuned for more webinars featuring feminist climate activists, in preparation for COP 27.