Women, poor must be heard at Geneva climate talks: Oxfam

Voices of women and the poor must be at the heart of informal talks this week in Geneva that will shape a new global climate fund to tackle climate change.

“The new Climate Fund will play a central role in delivering climate finance to the front line of climate change,” said Oxfam Policy Advisor Romain Benicchio. “It must guarantee that the poorest and most vulnerable countries have a say in how financing is disbursed and delivered so that it gets to the people who need it most.

“Women produce up to 80 per cent of the food in poor countries. They are the key to food security for millions of poor people as climate change affects agriculture. It is vital women's voices are heard in the management of climate cash.”

Forty key ministers will gather in Geneva for two days and a crucial issue on the agenda is the establishment of a new global climate fund to support poor countries in reducing their emissions and adapting to climate change.

Oxfam is also calling for Ministers to set out a plan on how to meet the commitment made in Copenhagen to deliver $100 billion in climate finance to fill a new fund.

The international agency says new innovative sources of finance – such as revenues from a Financial Transaction Tax or emissions trading schemes for international aviation and shipping – should be developed to help poor countries reduce their emissions and adapt to a changing climate. The provision of long term finance should also follow some key principles on the role of public finance, limits on loans, and additions to overseas aid targets.

“Climate finance is not aid or charity but a responsibility to help poor countries adapt to excess carbon emissions of rich countries. Only public finance can reach the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities” Benicchio said.

“With less than three months before COP16 in Cancun, ministers have to inject some momentum in the negotiations.”

For media inquiries please contact:

Romain Benicchio - Policy Advisor (in Geneva)
+41 79 79 79 990
romain.benicchio@oxfaminternational.org