In brief
The Vatican has caused a significant rift at the COP29 climate summit by opposing crucial discussions on women's rights, siding with countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia. This decision poses a threat to the planned support for women facing the brunt of climate change, while igniting broader debates on gender and human rights.
The Vatican's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, representing Pope Francis at the UN COP29 climate conference, has stepped into a contentious dispute regarding women's rights. Sources indicate that the Vatican has allied with nations such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and Egypt to obstruct discussions aimed at bolstering financial and emotional support for women adversely affected by climate change. According to Colombia's environment minister, significantly more women and girls than men are displaced by climate-related disasters.As discussions progressed, the current session of COP29 aimed at reformulating the decade-old Lima Work Programme on Gender, designed to integrate women's experiences into climate action plans. However, this initiative has been stalled by a coalition of countries representing conservative agendas that oppose inclusion of "gender" in the discussions, fearing it could acknowledge transgender women or LGBTQ+ issues, as reported by charities monitoring the negotiations.Colombia's lead negotiator, Susana Muhamad, expressed severe disappointment regarding the obstruction tactics, emphasizing the vital need to maintain a focus on gender in climate discussions and not to compromise on human rights. Over time, international consensus has highlighted that due to their caregiving roles, women are disproportionately affected by climate-induced challenges, such as food insecurity and access to reproductive health services, with predictions indicating almost 240 million women will face heightened food security risks by 2050.The contentious stance led by the Vatican and its counterparts undermines efforts by African and EU countries to acknowledge the diverse experiences women face in climate crises due to intersecting factors of gender, race, and age. NGOs like ActionAid have called this blockage "unacceptable," warning that it risks dismantling vital agreements aimed at women's support just days before the conference's conclusion.Despite Pope Francis' seemingly progressive views on certain LGBTQ+ issues within the church, such as blessing same-sex unions, the Vatican's latest position reflects a more conservative stance on gender rights in wider contexts, citing a commitment to traditional definitions of marriage. Activists fear this broader backlash against women's rights and LGBTQ+ recognition goes beyond the confines of the conference, threatening overall societal progress.With the current UN gender program set to lapse at the end of the year, inaction at COP29 could lead to a void in dedicated support for women combating climate threats. Reports indicate that the marginal representation of women in these negotiations exacerbates the disconnect between policymakers and those confronting climate-related consequences, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive dialogue.The urgent call from the EU, now backed by 17 countries, emphasizes the necessity for empowering women and girls to effectively tackle climate disruptions, asserting their essential place in shaping future climate policy.
