Women on a mission

NEW 'WOMEN, FAITH AND CLIMATE NETWORK' ANNOUNCED AT COP 29

Finally a good news story to come out of COP 29. Today (20th November 2024) at the Faith Pavilion at COP 29, a new global enterprise called the 'Women, Faith and Climate Network' was officially launched. This ground-breaking multi-faith initiative to tackle the pressing issues of climate change, initially saw the bringing together of 50 women leaders from 8 faiths and 15 countries to forge collaborations, last month, on 24th October 2024, at the planning meeting in Frascati, Italy. Some of the group were also granted an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis the day before.

With 80% of the world's population identifying with a faith group, this new 'Women, Faith and Climate Network' recognizes the immense potential of religious communities to influence positive change. Their aim is to engage and unite women-led climate action networks from diverse faiths and geographies in order to extend their powerful reach and influence, towards achieving climate goals. Participants estimated that their networks reach over 73 million people, including groups like Mothers' Union, with over 4 million members in 83 countries, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation USA and its 6 million women, Brahma Kumaris with 600,000 women members and UISG with its 600,000 Catholic sisters across the globe.

The October event was jointly convened by Wilton Park an executive agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office., the British Embassy to the Holy See, the Irish Embassy to the Holy See, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and the International Union of Superiors General, with support from UNEP Faith for Earth and Project Dandelion, and facilitated by Alison Hilliard, Senior Programme Director at Wilton Park. It was part of Wilton Park's broader initiative to forge cross-sector partnerships, uniting faith leaders, governments, and NGOs to tackle the climate crisis with innovation and collaboration.

Notable participants included Lorna Gold, Chair of the Laudato Si Movement, Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and co-founder of Project Dandelion, a women led global campaign for climate justice, and youth climate activist Ridhima Pandey. At the Italian event, Mary Robinson, invited the 'Women Faith and Climate Network' to join with Project Dandelion, her own women led global climate justice campaign, saying,

"You are here to draw on your power. 5.8 million people identify with faith- that's 80% of the world's population. Faith can be the foundation of transformative change to tackle our climate and nature crisis ... Where women lead, action follows."

Leaving Rome, Lorna had expressed her thoughts on the remarkable few days, saying, "It was a truly extraordinary conference. It was more than a conference, it was a moment when women from all different faiths came together and made a solemn commitment to accelerating climate action and supporting each other in our individual and collective endeavours to safeguard the earth for future generations."

It was Mary Robinson who announced the initiative on 20th November 2024, at the COP 29 Faith Pavilion Session based around 'Solutions for Restoration, Recovery and Resilience.' Needless to say it was well received and the next steps for the 'Women Faith and Climate Network' were shared:-

- Increase visibility of women led climate action though storytelling, mapping and communications

- Expand partnerships and collaborations on greening houses of worship, renewable energy and tree planting

- Combine forces for joint advocacy at key climate related events in 2025, including COP 30

- Establish a coordinating mechanism for the Network to support connection, exchange and collaboration among members

Pic credits: Project Dandelion/Women, Faith and Climate Network