COP26 Leadership: If Not Women, then Who?

It took me a while to work out that women are critical for a sustainable future. In 2009, I started reading outside my industry focus (then corporate finance), I had my first child -- a girl, and I realized that we were heading for environmental disaster if we did not manage to turn things around. I found myself deeply frustrated: I could not enjoy myself as a new mother, knowing that the very planet was in jeopardy -- my child's very future was in peril.

All systems had to change. We needed a new vision for the planet. So I joined the Development Board of ClientEarth, a not-for-profit environmental law firm and eventually became a funder. This was followed by advisory roles at the Environmental Funders Network, The Sustainable Angle, and for Action for Conservation.

When I was invited to speak at a TEDx talk in 2018 about my experience, I spoke from the viewpoint of a mother and an activist.

TEDxZuriberg: How being a mother made me an activist, September 25, 2018.

Collaboration/Women

Looking at "who was doing what" globally to halt environmental destruction, I noticed there was a lack of collaboration between charities and civil society -- meaning, the fossil fuel industry had successfully lobbied governments over decades. I asked myself, How could those trying to prevent environmental destruction possibly succeed if we did not do the same?


Looking at women working in the environmental sector, I thought it would be a good idea to connect them and was inspired by US philanthropist Winsome McIntosh, who seed funded the Natural Resources Defence Council, Earthjustice and ClientEarth, and created Rachel's Network, a network for female environmental funders.

"I could see that women's viewpoints were different to the male perspective -- that they indeed took a different approach, that they brought added empathy and emotion to the table..."

What started with my industry contacts quickly became an informal and powerful global network, The Women for the Environment, connecting over 70 female environmental philanthropists, founders, CEOs of charities and foundations, as well as influencers around the globe to share news, projects and connect directly. Members include the CEOs or founders of organizations with a common goal for a more sustainable world, such as WWF UK, ShareAction, Gaia Foundation, A Plastic Planet, and WaterBear, which just won an Oscar for Best Documentary with My Octopus Teacher, and many more.

Working together as women and sharing our personal perspective was fascinating and thrilling: we all shared a common passion, a strong determination to change the planet for the better. We cared deeply for future generations. We did not have a problem speaking our mind. We were changemakers and had a vision. We wanted action and understood that we had to think holistically to address inequality, lack of diversity and achieve climate justice if we wanted to see results. I could see that women had different viewpoints from men. We took a different approach, adding empathy and emotion, and weren’t afraid to tackle difficult subjects.

Working together as women and sharing our personal perspective was fascinating and thrilling: we all shared a common passion, a strong determination to change the planet for the better. We cared deeply for future generations. We did not have a problem speaking our mind. We were changemakers and had a vision. We wanted action and understood that we had to think holistically to address inequality, lack of diversity and achieve climate justice if we wanted to see results. I could see that women's viewpoints were different to the male perspective -- that they indeed took a different approach, that they brought added empathy and emotion to the table, and weren't afraid to tackle difficult subjects.

"The outcome of that conference [COP26] will define the future of the planet. All forthcoming generations will be impacted by what will be decided at the table. Never has a conference been more important than this one."

COP26 and its Leadership Team

It's worth noting that I am of white European background, studied law, have considered myself privileged and generally not discriminated against. This changed a few months ago.

We were all gearing up for the next round of climate negotiations of the UN-backed COP26, hosted this time by the UK and Italy in November 2021. The outcome of that conference will define the future of the planet. All forthcoming generations will be impacted by what will be decided at the table. Never has a conference been more important than this one. All our work will be affected.

WW0: All Roads Lead to Glasgow, April 28, 2021.

However, when UK COP26 leadership was announced, we were utterly astonished we didn't see a single woman on the team. How, in the 21st century could this have happened? The UK has traditionally been a champion of women, and girls' education in particular, even pledging so as a signatory to the Gender Action Plan. How had it forgotten about us only a year later? Why weren't any of the brilliant female climate leaders in the UK called to the team? Did the UK government not understand the importance of women and girls on the road to net zero? Had nobody bothered to read Project Drawdown or the UN SDGs?

"Einstein already said that we cannot solve problems by applying the same thinking that caused them."

Scientists are telling us that if we don't cool the planet through fast mitigation efforts we will reach a state of Climate Chaos by 2030. Over 500,000 people had to flee their homes in the US to escape out-of-control wildfires last year. Apocalyptical fires ravaged the world's largest wetland, the Pantanal. We are crashing through tipping points, with melting poles and glaciers which will threaten water supply around the world and raise sea levels. Indonesia is already moving its capital to higher ground and over two hundred million people will become displaced at the rate we are going. Covid is a mere side-effect of the environmental crisis, a result of deforestation.

TED: Johan Rockström, October 15, 2020.

Einstein already said that we cannot solve problems by applying the same thinking that caused them. Without female climate experts also at the helm, we were convinced the conference would not be the success it needs it to be.

"...when we spoke directly with British civil servants and politicians they did not see anything wrong with a team that lacked women -- or that it could be viewed as an embarrassment."

SHEChangesClimate

So, we set up a campaign called SHEChangesClimate lobbying for equal representation of women in all their diversity -- 50:50 men and women at the top. We received signatures from over 400 female climate leaders and their supporters, including former President Mary Robinson, Laurence Tubiana, Sylvia Earle, Katherine Wilkinson, Kris Tompkins, Kate Brandt, Kate Raworth, Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, Vandana Shiva, Emma Watson, Emma Thompson, Ellie Goulding, Jody Williams and Chelsea Clinton. The message was loud and clear, and covered widely in the media around the world, with over 8 million Twitter views on the day of the launch.

"But beyond one Champion (for Adaptation and Resilience), appointed last November, no further women were brought in to co-lead the negotiations."

Response from the UK

And yet, when we spoke directly with British civil servants and politicians they did not see anything wrong with a team that lacked women -- or that it could be viewed as an embarrassment. Women lower down in the hierarchy of the COP team along with some female climate leaders shared their frustration with us regarding the government's lack of willingness to share leadership. Even some COP High-Level Champions deferred to the next COP host country (an African country, yet to be announced) to achieve a better gender balance. The lack of women this time around seemed to be accepted.

We warned about reputational damage and offered various solutions. We supplied a list of female climate leaders who would be ready to step up. We were assured something would happen -- that appointments would be made. But beyond one Champion (for Adaptation and Resilience), appointed last November, no further women were brought in to co-lead the negotiations.

"...how can the UK ask anyone to adopt the Gender Action Plan if it is not willing to lead by example, or engage young women around the world, and build female climate leaders of the future..."

What could this mean for COP26?

This showed us how much work there is still to do for gender equity, but also how far we are from reaching sustainability -- even at our most important global climate negotiations.

Research has shown that female parliamentarians lead to better climate policy and fewer emissions. Who will scrutinize the process if not women? Who will build the alliances and get commitments if not women? Who will sell a new vision of the future for our planet, show that we can do things differently, show that another way is possible?

We also noticed that charismatic female climate leaders have made previous conferences a success (e.g., Laurence Tubiana, Christiana Figueres). Who are these leaders going to be this time round? We know women will excel when it comes to listening to civil society and youth. They will be instrumental in the making and implementation of policy decisions. So how can the UK ask anyone to adopt the Gender Action Plan if it is not willing to lead by example, or engage young women around the world, and build female climate leaders of the future -- if the world does not see women actively leading at these negotiations now?

TIME: These Women Are Taking The Lead In The Fight Against Climate Change, September 12, 2019.

"If matriarchal thinking is mixed into the patriarchal paradigm, we have a chance of making swifter decisions and changes towards a sustainable future. Unless we show that we can solve the gender question, we won't solve the climate crisis."

This isn't new -- women have traditionally been missing in politics and business leadership. Our society is shaped by patriarchal thinking, which stems from the time when we were still toiling the soil and needed a strong physiology. But in our modern world, and to solve the most pressing issue of our time, the need for strength is intellectual, meaning a balance of 50:50, representing all of humanity and must be reflected in our decision-making teams.

If matriarchal thinking is mixed into the patriarchal paradigm, we have a chance of making swifter decisions and changes towards a sustainable future. Unless we show that we can solve the gender question, we won't solve the climate crisis. Full diversity is required to achieve best results for all of us, to get us out of this emergency. 50% of the planet's population needs to have full equity here. This is part of making International climate negotiations transparent and accountable.

Whatever plan we have (and we have had a long time to plan this, given that this climate crisis is not new) has to be put into immediate action. Giving women equity in the negotiations will help achieve this. As a mother, as a woman, I care deeply about this.

To our delight, the new US administration has appointed a female vice-president and pulled both female and male climate experts and leaders into the administration -- the head of negotiations at COP26 for the US is a woman -- aligning all departments on the mission that lies ahead. This is inspiring and gives us great hope.

The UK should follow this example. We owe it to the planet, ourselves, and future generations.