WECAN: Women on the Ground at Paris COP21

Special Update: WECAN on the Ground in Paris During COP21 Climate Negotiations

December 4, 2015

Dear Friends and Allies,  The Women's Earth and Climate Action Network delegation is on the ground in Paris, France standing for climate justice and systemic change during United Nations COP21 climate negotiations. Government emission reduction commitments to date are not nearly sufficient given the urgency of the crisis we face. Currently, we are involved in urgent work to keep civil society observers in the room and halt attempts to remove a key paragraph regarding respecting human and labour rights, Indigenous rights, gender equality, and the integrity of ecosystems from the binding section of the agreement. While we remain engaged within the formal UN process in order to push for just, gender responsive policies and advocate against false climate solutions - our hopes lie with the people's climate justice movements organizing in magnificent diversity and strength in Paris and across the world in parallel to COP21 negotiations. Last week, more than 600,000 people in 175 countries took to the streets as part of the Global Climate March. Here in Paris, WECAN joined a human chain action that stretched across the city, and paid our respects at the Bataclan theater, site of one of the tragic attacks in Paris earlier this month. In light of this wave of global violence, we are using this moment to uplift critical intersectional narratives around war, violence, extractivism,  dangerous economic frameworks and women as peace-makers and solution bearers. We are working ceaselessly to bring the voices of grassroots and Indigenous women to the forefront of events inside and outside of COP21, and uniting with allies including the Indigenous Environmental Network, Amazon Watch and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature to send a powerful intersectional message around Rights of Nature, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Rights of Women and Rights of Future Generations. Join us in Paris for ongoing WECAN actions and events, or follow along from wherever you are via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Read and Share - Women's Voices for Climate Justice

The New Internationalist -  Women on the Frontlines of Climate Change at COP21 and Beyond "For the health of the earth and all generations, present and future, it is paramount that we seize this moment and recognize that there will be no effective action on climate change until women's struggles, solutions and leadership are at the forefront." - Osprey Orielle Lake, Women's Earth and Climate Action Network Click here to read Osprey's full analysis on the importance of women's voices at COP21 ORIGIN Magazine -  Women in Climate: Solutions at COP21 and Beyond What can we do right now to address climate change?  We invite you to explore this ORIGIN Magazine article 'Women in Climate: Solutions on the Road to COP21 and Beyond' to hear answers from women climate leaders Winona LaDuke (Honor the Earth), Leila Salazar-López (Amazon Watch), Farah Kabir (ActionAid Bangladesh), Jacqui Patterson (NAACP), Katharine Hayhoe (climate scientist), Lorena Aguilar (IUCN), Kristen Graf (Women of Wind Energy), Nina Gualinga (Sarakayu, Ecuador), Cindy Wiesner (Global Grassroots Justice Alliance), Neha Misra (Solar Sister), Neema Namadamu (WECAN DR Congo), Sally Ranney (WECAN) and Osprey Orielle Lake (WECAN).

Next Week - WECAN Events During COP21

Women Leading Solutions on the Frontlines of Climate Change - Paris WHEN: December 7 from 13:00 to 18:30 WHERE: Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel, 18 Boulevard Haussmann  HOW: This event is free and open to the public. English-Spanish-French translation will be available. Learn more and view the line-up of outstanding speakers here. International Rights of Nature Tribunal  WHEN: December 4 & 5 from 9:00-18:30  WHERE: Maison des Métallos, 94 Rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, Paris HOW: Learn more and register here.   Global Women & Indigenous Peoples on the Frontline of Climate Solutions: Forests & Renewable Energy  WHEN: December 8 from 15:00-16:30 WHERE: Observer Room 01, Blue Zone, Le Bourget HOW: UNFCCC Accreditation required - formal side event Frontline Women's Press Conference WHEN: December 8 at 18:30 WHERE: Press Conference Room 3 in the COP Media Center HOW:  UNFCCC Accreditation required

Snapshots from on the Ground in Paris

Indigenous allies lead a sunrise ceremony on the opening day of COP21

Osprey Orielle Lake speaks on a panel on Human Rights and Rights of Nature on the eve of the International Rights of Nature Tribunal

Members of MWASI - Collectif Afroféministe during the human chain action in Paris on the day of the Global Climate March

Support the WECAN Delegation at COP21 & Beyond

WECAN Latin America & Caribbean Coordinator, Kiyomi Nagumo, standing as part of the human chain action in Paris

If you've already supported the campaign to get these outstanding leaders to the climate negotiations, then take pride in the fact that their messages ARE being heard! If not, you can still add your support by donating here in solidarity with women for climate justice at COP21 and into the new year.

Thank you for your continued support of our work for climate justice and care for the Earth and all generations,     Osprey Orielle Lake and the WECAN International Team