The unheard voices at every COP meeting
By Netani Rika
Across the world, advocates press for the voices of women to be heard at COP26 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
For after decades of talks on climate change and despite the fact that the economies of many developing countries are borne by women, their voices remain unheard.
In the Pacific, as sea levels rise, communities relocate, salt water intrudes into drinking sources and firewood becomes scarce, it is the women who stand on the frontline.
They must travel further to collect water and firewood, their food gathering and planting skills must change, and when men react violently in anger or frustration, the women are first to suffer.
The Pacific Conference of Churches has encouraged women of faith – not only Christians – to speak and be heard ahead of COP26, providing them with an opportunity to address climate change from their perspective.
PCC Programmes Manager, Frances Namoumou, said climate change had no regard for gender, faith or ethnicity.
“Communities of women are suffering and people of faith in the Pacific and the world must wake up to that fact,” Namoumou said.
“National, regional and international leaders must act to address the concerns of all women. And we want faith leaders to pay attention to all women – even those who may not share their ideology.’’
In its pre-COP26 activities, the PCC opened its website and social media platforms to Hindu and Muslim women in Fiji and gave them the opportunity to speak about climate-related issues.
Vintika Kumar of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam said people must look to the future.
“Nature has every right to be here, just as any one of us. We do not own the Planet Earth. Let’s learn to conserve and coexist with nature,’’ Kumar said.
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for. As young leaders, we must take action to ensure that the cycle of life in nature must continue, not only for us but for the future generation.
“With today’s daily development all around the world, we must preserve the environment. Our actions today will ensure the future of the planet.’’
Kumar said she – and other TISI Sangam members – believed that creation, its maintenance and dissolution were part of a continuing cycle which stemmed from God.
Nasra Khan of the Ahmadiya Anjaman Ishat Islam said world leaders, including those at COP26, had a duty to protect creation and ensure equity of resources.
“I challenge all leaders worldwide to take that first step in preserving natural resources. They are a gift from Allah to all of his creation – human beings, animals, flora, fauna,” Khan said.
On the availability of water, Khan said this was an important life sustaining natural resource which must be used equitably.
“(Islam) teaches its followers principles of social justice and equity which extends into the practice of preserving the earth’s natural resources, particularly water conservation,’’ she said.
“According to Islam, water is a community resource and must be the right of all humankind.’’
International studies show that women are responsible in many countries for gathering fuel, water and food and they often suffer the most when shortages are caused or made worse by the climate crisis.
Gender-based violence, studies show, has led to the exacerbation of violence against women, particularly during climate disasters.
In its call for action, the Global Women’s Assembly for Climate Justice has demanded that world leaders at Cop26 must end fossil fuel expansion and move to 100 per cent renewable energy.
Namoumou said the PCC supported a move towards renewable energy.
“We have started to move towards clean energy as an organization and have plans for an off-the-grid power supply at the PCC Eco-Farm in Tailevu, Fiji,” she said.
“This is about action – no more talk. We intend to show the Pacific and the world that it’s possible to make significant change if there is political and personal will.’’
““We need systemic change, and that includes listening to women and involving them in climate change adaptation and mitigation plans.
“The Pacific can’t go from COP to COP, from meeting to meeting without making significant changes. For our organisation we can take practical actions with water and energy conservation and we can learn from the value systems of other faiths.’’
Another voice which the PCC has chosen to amplify is that of Gayatri Prakash of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, a Hindu organization.
Describing the world as insignificant before God’s greatness, Prakash said Arya Samajis believed the world was undeveloped until God spoke and brought it out of chaos.
“My challenge is for all Arya Samaj people and other respective faith communities to protect and care for creation.’’
And that is basically the call of all women of faith in the region to international leaders at COP 26 – do your sacred duty; protect and care for creation and do it now.
Netani Rika works as a Communications Specialist for the Pacific Conference of Churches
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