Climate Change - It's About People
Climate change is beyond the environment, it’s beyond politics. It’s about people.
The world's governments met in Durban, South Africa from November 28th to December 11th, for this year's UN Climate Conference (COP-17).
In Africa, climate change is already undermining the agriculture which millions of poor people depend on. Urgent action is needed to slash greenhouse gas emissions and invest in the resilience of poor people.
- Oxfam News Release:
Durban Platform leaves world sleepwalking towards four degrees warming
- Oxfam Blogs:
Winners and losers in the Durban climate deal
COP-17 climate deal fails poor people
Photo: Shayne Robinson for Greenpeace & SpectralQ, 2011
2000 children created a spectacular image of a lion to send a roaring message to UN climate negotiators at COP-17 in Durban.
Background
- Read Oxfam International's Primer on Climate Change
- Check out Oxfam Canada's blog site for updates on COP-17
- Background: Women and the Green Climate Fund
- Background: Climate Financing in Durban
- Background: Why is Oxfam calling for a tax on maritime shipping?
- Resources
Women on Farms Project
 |
 |
 |
|
The Trans-African Caravan of Hope – a 17-day journey through 10 countries to Durban, South Africa – was undertaken to raise the profile of African communities affected by climate change. The Caravan arrived in Durban in time for the UN Climate Conference. Read Road to Durban, an Oxfam blog article about the caravan. |
|
Through their stories the women featured in Enough to Eat show us some of the impacts of a changing climate in the Western Cape of South Africa. |
COP-17 conference outcomes
UN negotiations rarely involve quick fixes. But Canadians should expect solid progress from their government. At COP-17, Oxfam Canada called on the federal government to:
- put women at the heart of the Green Climate Fund (agreed to at the 2010 UN conference)
- keep its promise to pay its fair share to help vulnerable communities adapt to a changing climate
- raise its target for reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.
Prior to the conference, governments had pledged to mobilize $100 billion per year by 2020 for the Green Climate Fund. The fund is intended to help developing countries adapt to climate change and reduce their own emissions. At Durban, the Green Climate Fund was formally launched (with some key provisions on gender, national ownership and civil society participation), but world leaders failed to agree on sources of revenue for the Fund.
Canada must:
- insist women be fairly represented in the Green Climate Fund's decision-making bodies, and that the Fund be structured to meet women's needs.
- support innovative sources of financing for the Green Climate fund, including a financial transaction tax, also known as a Robin Hood Tax; and a levy on greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
A second issue was making good on monies already promised. The Copenhagen Climate Accord signed in December 2009 makes provision for $30 billion of "fast start" finance in 2010, 2011 and 2012 to help developing countries fight climate change. Canada provided $400 million to that effort in 2010. At Durban, Canada reaffirmed its $1.2 billion commitment to “fast-start” financing over three years, announcing $600 million in new projects.
In spite of a marathon negotiation session at the end of the conference, world leaders did not agree on ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Canada has yet to announce measures to meet its voluntary reduction target, and has indicated it will withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol.
Women on Farms Project
The Women on Farms Project (WOFP) is a non-government organisation based in the Western Cape of South Africa. The core work of WFP includes training and capacity building, research, lobbying, campaigning and organisation building. As climate change impacts become more apparent in this region the WOFP is building the resilience of communities in the Western Cape and empowering female farm workers.
Oxfam Canada started working with WFP in 2003 and since then has supported various projects on women’s leadership, campaign organising, knowledge building on labour rights, domestic violence, societal security and other legislation.
In July 2011, Oxfam Australia travelled to the Women on Farms Project and documented their visit in the following slide show and videos:
(expand the slide show to read the accompanying text)
Women on Farms - Land is Life: Climate Impacts
Women on Farms - Land is Life: Climate Adaptation
Resources
More background:
- Background: Women and the Green Climate Fund
- Background: Climate Financing in Durban
- Background: Why is Oxfam calling for a tax on maritime shipping?
- Enough For Everyone:
What Canada can do to end the food crisis and reduce hunger around the world
Audio:
GROW Fact Sheet:
Oxfam Briefing Notes:
- Gender and the Green Climate Fund - July 2011
- Out of the Bunker - Time for a Fair Deal on Shipping Emissions - September 2011
Oxfam Research Reports:
- Governing Climate Funds: What Will Work For Women? September 2011
- Climate change and women farmers in Burkina Faso: Impact and adaptation policies and practices – August 2011
Oxfam Field Research Report:
