By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
In bid to ensure equality, the 30th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (Conference of the Parties COP30) is to set up a just transition which will secure people’s rights, jobs, access to food, land and energy which is a critical response to climate scepticism and backlash.
Climate change is a threat that exacerbates existing global, economic and social inequalities and if actions taken are not equal there will not be justice for lowest income workers, women and communities.
When just transition takes its course at national level through COP30, it will hold government to account. It will ensure participation, human rights, social protection, access to energy and food, livelihood and economic diversification.
As they work together with the United Nations Framework Convection on Climate Change (UNFCCC), there will be engagements with Just Transition Work Programme to elaborate scope, functions, ope-rationalism of the JT Mechanism. There will be need to build knowledge, provide technical and financial support to governments and coordinate globally. Lastly there will be need to cross cut the challenge of lack of climate finance, but also need to make sure finance is better allocated to just transition priorities.
Speaking at a virtual Cross border Science Cafe which ran under the theme, Reflections on climate change, gender, health and impactful stories Theresa Anderson of Action Aid International Justice Lead, said there is need to ensure that climate action evolves.
“Climate action should prioritize peoples daily needs and not accidentally push people into poverty. But just that climate transition is not yet standard climate practise. Short cuts that leave out justice steps make the journey much longer and cutting emissions should not mean cutting corners. Otherwise risks unintended harm backlash and ever more delay. Just transition helps communities to transform from potential sceptic and blockages to powerful advocates for change,” said Anderson.
She added that is actions taken are not based on justice job security and land rights are at risk and basics for survival like food, energy, transport will become more expensive.
Climate change disproportionately impact women and marginalised genders by intensifying health risks, care burdens, food insecurities and exposure to climate related shocks.
Speaking at the Science Cafe, Imali Ngusale the Strategic Lead at ACHCGA said that climate change continues to bring inequality.
“Climate change deepens existing gender inequalities by interacting with social, economic and political power structures. Women and girls face heightened risks relates to RMNCAH+N, water scarcity, climate induced displacement and gender based violence during climate emergencies,” he said.
He encouraged the media to write media narratives that influence positive change and should not be gender blind climate reporting as ethical, gender responsive media can shift public understanding toward justice oriented climate action.
ACHCGA advocates for gender responsive approach to adaption and mitigation that acknowledge non economic losses such as health, dignity, livelihoods and care systems. It emphasises on Loss and Damage mechanisms that address gendered health impacts and provide accessible right based support.
