At the global COP29 climate conference this November, CARE International UK is urging the Labour government to deliver on its promises of climate leadership by championing both climate and gender justice.
Women and girls in the global south, who have contributed the least to the climate crisis, are bearing the brunt of its impacts. Yet they remain excluded from crucial decision-making and from accessing the resources they need to lead the change for their communities and the planet.
This needs to change - now.
What is COP29?
COP29 is the 29th annual UN Climate Change conference, and is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11- 22 November 2024. At COP, world leaders come together to make decisions on the global response to the challenges posed by the climate crisis.
This year’s COP has a special focus on climate finance, with the aim of agreeing how much money should go each year to helping the most climate-impacted countries with the costs caused by devastating climate change.
What is climate finance?
Climate finance is the funding provided by governments, private sectors, and international organisations to support actions that address climate change, including reducing carbon emissions and adapting to its impacts. This financing is crucial for helping vulnerable countries manage climate risks, transition to clean energy, and build resilient communities.
CARE is saying climate finance should prioritise the worst-impacted women. Women are leading the climate response in their homes and communities, with innovative and sustainable solutions: from leading agriculture co-operatives to diversifying to drought-resistant crops, to creating early warning systems that save lives and livelihoods of women with less access to traditional media .
Yet the UK has fallen behind in supporting them, with just 0.2% of climate finance reaching the hands of women’s rights organisations in 2022. This must change. We cannot tackle the climate crisis without putting women and girls at the heart of the solution.
Women like Virginia, an indigenous farmer in Ecuador who is leading her community to adapt to the impacts of climate change in Ecuador.
As part of CARE’s “She grows the future” project, Virginia supports women farmers in adapting their farming techniques to climate change impacts and diversifying their sources of income. To help them, CARE has created the very first agroecology school for women in her province.
The challenge we face
Under the previous government, the UK’s representation at COP was weak, with ministers missing at crucial moments. This, paired with an effective £1.6 billion cut to the UK’s climate finance contribution, has left a significant gap in the global response.
The current government has pledged to be "back on climate" and to take a global lead. Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband has said the UK will “show global leadership on the climate crisis.” Foreign secretary David Lammy said we must “use all levers at our disposal, from the diplomatic to the financial” to tackle the climate crisis. And Minister for Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds” said the government will “embed equality at the heart of everything government does.“ But words are not enough. Now, at COP29, they must put these promises into action.
What CARE is calling for at COP29
1. Prioritising a feminist response to the climate crisis
CARE is calling on the UK government to prioritise a feminist approach to climate finance. This means ensuring that women-led organisations in climate-impacted countries receive direct funding to continue their vital work. We are urging the government to establish a flagship FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) gender-just climate programme, specifically designed to get funding to women’s rights organisations that are leading locally in areas worst impacted by climate
2. A $1 trillion commitment in public climate finance
The Labour government must push for a new global goal of at least $1 trillion in public climate finance at COP29. This is not just an aspirational figure - it is necessary to provide the scale of funding needed to tackle the global climate crisis. The UK can and should play a leading role in securing this commitment.
3. New and additional finance
Crucially, any climate finance must be “new and additional,” meaning it should not come from existing aid budgets or be counted twice. Taking money from existing aid would undermine development efforts already in place and further marginalise the most vulnerable communities. The UK must ensure that all climate finance commitments are truly additional to ensure they have the impact needed.
Why is COP29 important?
Without immediate and bold action, the climate crisis will continue to devastate the lives of women and girls in the global south. These communities are already on the frontlines, responding to extreme weather, food shortages, and displacement, but they are doing so without the support they deserve. Investing in women-led climate action is not just a matter of fairness—it’s a matter of effectiveness. Studies have shown that when women are included in decision-making and given the resources they need, outcomes are more sustainable, more innovative, and better for everyone.
By failing to act, the UK risks not only worsening the climate crisis but also damaging its own reputation on the world stage. This is a crucial moment for the Labour government to restore trust with the global south and demonstrate real leadership on climate and gender justice.
How you can help
Join us in demanding action from the Labour government at COP29. Together, we can amplify the message that women and girls must be at the heart of climate action. Like and share our campaign video on social media to spread the word, and hold the government accountable for delivering the commitments needed for a just, sustainable future.
This COP29, let’s ensure the UK takes the bold, feminist action necessary to tackle the climate crisis head-on. With your support, we can drive real change for women, girls, and the planet.
