Open Letter to African Heads of State and Government

“Women at the heart of climate action: Harnessing the power of women’s leadership to scale up adaptation and build resilience”

Your Excellencies,

As African women leaders and advocates committed to addressing the pressing global challenge of climate change, we write to you with a sense of urgency and shared responsibility. Given the disproportionate consequences and negative effects of climate change on our continent, we believe it is crucial to step up. The current climate crisis is, without a doubt, the defining crisis of our time.

The Africa Climate Summit is yet another key moment where Africa highlighted the disproportionate level of climate risks facing the continent, despite emitting less than 4% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. The climate crisis undermines our hard-won development gains and deepens cycles of poverty, fragility, and vulnerability across Africa. We know that extreme weather events and crop failures lead to increased resource competition, which can fuel conflicts and violence against women.

Studies consistently demonstrate that women are disproportionately impacted by climate change due to existing socio-economic inequalities and cultural norms. Women have limited access to resources, decision-making processes, and education. This hinders their ability to adapt effectively to changing environmental conditions. Yet, women play an indispensable role in climate adaptation as resource managers, caregivers, and agents of change within their communities.

Furthermore, the connection between climate change and women's health requires urgent action. Women's unique vulnerabilities and roles make them disproportionately susceptible to the impact of climate change on their health. As climate shifts affect water availability, agriculture, and disease patterns, the health and well-being of women are placed at increased risk. We urge you to prioritize gender-sensitive health adaptation strategies to ensure equitable access to healthcare, water, and sanitation services for women, safeguarding their fundamental rights.

The launch of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032) in February 2022 raised many hopes. Its goal is clear: “To provide a continental framework for collective action and enhanced cooperation in addressing climate change issues that improves livelihoods and well-being, promotes adaptation capacity, and achieves low-emission, sustainable economic growth”. However, we are yet to see its full implementation.

In this context, we emphasize the utmost importance of integrating the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032). into national climate action plans with a particular emphasis on the needs and leadership role of women. By aligning national efforts with this strategy, African countries can collaboratively address climate-related challenges and drive sustainable, inclusive development that takes into account the needs of all vulnerable groups.

Following on from the Declaration of Nairobi and the outcomes of the recently concluded Africa Climate Summit, we urge you to consider the following recommendations as you prepare for COP28:

• Call on governments globally to double adaptation financing by 2025 as agreed on during COP26.

• Prioritize gender-transformative climate adaptation: Ensure that climate adaptation efforts throughout the continent are gender-transformative, recognizing that women face distinct vulnerabilities, are often on the frontlines of adaptation, and are therefore uniquely positioned to spearhead locally-led adaptation efforts.

• Enhance women's participation and leadership: Empower women from all backgrounds, including from indigenous and marginalized communities, to participate in decision-making processes, shape resilience strategies, and contribute their insights and expertise towards crafting effective solutions.

• Facilitate access to resources and finance: Increase women's access to resources, finance, and technology that can aid their climate adaptation efforts and create mechanisms that allow women to participate in income-generating activities related to climate resilience.

• Disaggregate research, data collection, and measure progress related to the Global Goal on Adaptation: Support research that explores the intersection between gender and climate change impacts as accurate data is essential for informed decision-making and effective policy formulation.

• Ensure the new jobs that are created in the green economy are equally accessible to both women and men.

By acknowledging the critical role of women in climate adaptation, our nations can harness the collective strength of our communities to face the challenges ahead. We, as women leaders in climate action, stand ready to collaborate and support you in implementing these recommendations.

Let us seize this pivotal moment to reaffirm our commitment to a sustainable, prosperous, equitable, and climate-resilient Africa. Together, we can pave the way for transformative change that secures the future for generations to come.

Download the open letter as a PDF.