The Programme addresses the thematic day on gender and groups in vulnerable situations in the framework of the Just Transition: challenges and opportunities for the Region

10 November 2022, Sharm-El-Seikh, Egypt - The EUROCLIMA programme held yesterday, on 9 November,  the thematic day dedicated to delving into and putting into perspective the importance of the gender approach in the design of plans and policies for a Just Transition in the Latin American and Caribbean region. The day was structured in two main spaces: a first block formed by three parallel events with panellists from both government institutions and civil society, and a second block that opened a space for debate and reflection on the key points raised in the sessions.   

The day began with the Side Event “Gender Mainstreaming in national climate action for resilient and low-emission development: progress, needs and practices in LAC”, which analysed the opportunities for articulation and scaling up provided by gender mainstreaming in climate policy, with a regional analysis of gender perspective integration in climate instruments and policies, and the specific case of Peru, with its experience in gender mainstreaming in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).  

Subsequently, under the title “Gender equality as an indispensable axis for the just and sustainable transition, a regional and territorial approach in Latin America: the case of Colombia”, the main challenges and opportunities for achieving a just, inclusive and sustainable transition in the region, which reduces gender gaps and promotes access to green jobs for women, were presented. 

During the session, the main findings of the technical document prepared by the ILO and FIIAPP: "Climate Change, Just Transition and Gender in Latin America" were presented, and it was discussed how the care economy must be recognised and is necessary for an inclusive just transition that generates green, sustainable and decent jobs, and how it is an unavoidable challenge in order to move towards more resilient societies in the face of the challenge of climate change. And finally, the case of Colombia was presented: "The Gender and Climate Change Action Plan of Colombia: an approach for an intersectional and territorial just transition, built with the voices of rural, farming, Afro-Colombian and indigenous women from the perspective of the care economy and environmental leadership towards a just transition of the workforce". 

Finally, the meeting,  ¡Not without us! Just Transitions with a Gender and Human Rights Perspective, provided some concrete experiences and lessons learned from civil society with the intention of guiding this just transition with a gender perspective, social justice and a human rights approach. In this way, women representatives of indigenous peoples highlighted the importance of placing indigenous knowledge on the same level as technical knowledge of climate change in the decision-making process of the COPs so that no one is left behind. The importance of discussing just transition in terms of depatriarchalisation and decolonisation of the current paradigm from a bottom-up approach was also highlighted. Other civil society representatives also highlighted the importance of considering the political crisis we are going through as a historical challenge of the current generations and the need to use human rights as a key tool with a gender perspective to combat it, putting the care economy at the centre of the just transition to ensure women's autonomy in all its diversity. 

Finally,  a day of debate and conclusions was held, which was introduced and facilitated by Laura Marrero -focal point for Gender and Climate Change at the Ministry of the Environment of Uruguay- which allowed for the key points derived from the three events of the morning to be discussed and delved into, working on the main milestones that should be included in the roadmap for the Just Transition with an inclusive, gender-based approach in the Region.

About EUROCLIMA+  

EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union and co-financed by the German federal government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as by the governments of France and Spain through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.   

The Programme's mission is to reduce the impact of climate change and its effects on 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting mitigation, adaptation, resilience and climate investment. It is implemented according to the "Spirit of Team Europe" under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the AFD Group: French Development Agency (AFD)/ Expertise France (EF), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the International and Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). 

Contact:  

Daniel Fernández This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Marina Casas This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.