Women-led virtual climate summit urges full fossil fuel phase out
Among key recommendations are gender-resilient climate financing, fast-tracking a just energy transition, phasing out fossil fuels, and involving all segments of society, including women, youth and indigenous leaders as well as local community heads.
The meeting was attended by over 800 climate change influencers.
Discussions at the summit, which featured 40 speakers, including COP28 high-level champion Razan Al Mubarak and UAE chief climate negotiator Hana AlHashimi, centred on key issues such as gender-resilient climate financing, inclusivity, and a just transition to green energy.
The aim was to provide recommendations for COP28 and governments to adopt a united approach to tackle climate change challenges.
Al Mubarak stressed the need to address climate and nature crises simultaneously, emphasising that cutting emissions by half while safeguarding carbon sinks and nature, is imperative to staying within the 1.5°C global temperature increase limit set by the Paris Agreement.
The summit's discussions on energy, finance, nature, and inclusion and diversity culminated in recommendations, which SHE Changes Climate and Project Dandelion hopes will be incorporated into the Climate Implementation document after COP28.
Addressing challenges in climate finance, Laura Garcia, president and CEO of Global Greengrants Fund, highlighted the need for an inter-sectoral approach involving governments and civil society.
Dr Jemimah Njuki, a chief of empowerment official at UN Women, emphasised the need to address persistent barriers faced by vulnerable groups, particularly women.
During the closing session, Mary Robinson, co-founder of Project Dandelion, underlined the importance of committing to a total fossil fuel phase-out and a just transition to renewable energy.