2nd Lady calls for women participation in fighting climate change

The Second Lady, Mrs Sami­ra Bawumia, has called for in­creased women participation in the fight against Climate Change

Speaking at the Africa Women and Children Confer­ence (AFRIWOCC) pre-COP28 Climate Forum at the Harvard University in Cambridge-Mas­sachusetts, USA, she explained that the move would step up efforts aimed at combatting climate change and mitigating its impacts, particularly on women and children.

AFRIWOCC is a biennial high-level conference which brings together global experts to deliberate on issues related to women and children within the African continent.

The maiden edition, con­vened this year under the theme: “Amplifying the Voices of Women and Children in Climate Action”, served as a nuanced engagement platform for climate issues and their impacts.

It was framed as a conversa­tion to elicit responses from some of the leading actors in the areas of climate, environment, natural resources, agriculture, and energy.

Mrs Bawumia, who is the Chair and Convener for AFRIWOCC, said currently women were under­represented in the energy sectors.

Citing the International Renew­able Energy Agency, the Second lady, also a Global Ambassador for the United Nations’ Founda­tion, Clean Cooking Alliance and the World Health Organisation’s Health and Energy Platform for Action (HEPA), noted that wom­en make up only 32 per cent of the workforce in renewable energy sectors.

Addressing the forum, she said the United Nations estimates that 80 per cent of people displaced by climate change threats, such as severe drought, extreme heat and sea level rise, were women, adding, “This, therefore, makes them dis­proportionately affected.”

She, therefore, called on financial institutions to focus on financing women, especially those in green sustainable projects.

Mrs Bawumia noted that such support would contribute to gen­der-responsive and children-sensi­tive solutions to climate change.

She said the wellbeing of women and children should be prioritised in all sectors.

Through the Samira Empow­erment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), she indicated that about 8,000 pregnant women in the East Gonja Municipality, North East Gonja and Saboba Districts of Ghana were provided with essen­tial birth kits to prevent maternal and neonatal mortalities.

“Additionally, SEHP has trained about 1,600 women in Wa, Walewale, Gushiegu and Chiana­Paga in the Upper West, North East, Northern and Upper East regions in quality shea picking and processing.

SEHP has supported many children and women in the areas of education, empowerment and health,” the second lady stated.