Emirati women's climate work should be an example to the world

The global climate community has a great opportunity to build on the foundations set by Emirati women at Cop28 on gender-responsive climate action when Cop29 arrives in Baku, Azerbaijan, in just under three months.

Cop29 is poised to focus on climate finance – a critical aspect of an inclusive energy transition and broader climate action, which can no longer afford to overlook the importance of gender responsiveness. And Emirati women – who played an integral role in shaping the outcomes of Cop28 – are positioned to guide the global community towards a more inclusive and equitable approach to climate finance.

Cop28 marked a significant milestone in the UAE’s climate diplomacy. Not only for the headline-grabbing outcomes it achieved, but also for the remarkable climate leadership and diplomacy demonstrated by Emirati women.

As I was reminded during a special edition of my podcast, On Renewables, hosted at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on the occasion of Emirati Women’s Day, our women have become standard-bearers of the UAE’s climate advocacy and action on the global stage.

Both the UAE Consensus and the Cop28 Presidential Action Agenda, which spanned critical areas such as food, nature, climate finance, energy and multilevel action, were shaped by the efforts of our female climate leaders.

For example, Shamma Al Mazrui, the Cop28 Youth Climate Champion, advocated for the institutionalisation of the youth climate role and pushed for greater support for youth in climate decision-making. Razan Al Mubarak, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Cop28, mobilised civil society, businesses and indigenous peoples, ensuring that climate action was integrated across all segments of society. And Hana Al Hashimi, the UAE’s Chief Climate Negotiator, played an instrumental role in steering complex negotiations to successful conclusions.

The momentum generated by their achievements meets a critical juncture at Cop29, where climate finance is set to dominate the agenda.

Negotiations and discussions in Baku will focus heavily on a mechanism called the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, which is essential to scaling up support for developing countries in their climate efforts. However, for this collective to be truly effective, it must incorporate gender-responsive policies that acknowledge and address the unique challenges faced by women in the context of climate change – especially those on the frontlines.

It is time to acknowledge that climate change is a social issue, which women sit at the heart of. Simply put, delivering a climate-positive future depends on the speed at which the global community can unlock capital and mobilise finance to reach developing economies and frontline communities, where women comprise 80 per cent of those displaced by climate change.

Despite these challenges, it is too reductionist to say that women are mere victims of climate change. Because, when supported and empowered, they are the greatest agents of climate action. Around the globe, women are at the forefront of climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, driving innovative solutions that benefit entire communities.

The integration of a gender lens into investment frameworks for climate finance is, therefore, a moral imperative. It is also a strategic necessity. By ensuring that climate finance is gender-responsive, we can achieve outcomes that are inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

This approach, as outlined in a recent 2X Global report, aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement, particularly Article 73, which emphasises the need for gender-responsive actions. Unfortunately, despite this emphasis, gender considerations have historically been under-prioritised and overlooked in climate finance discussions.

By supporting women through gender-responsive climate finance, we are not only addressing vulnerabilities but also empowering those who have the potential to lead in the fight against climate change.

As such, the discussions at Cop29 must prioritise gender-responsive climate finance, ensuring that the climate finance collective mentioned above, as well as other financial mechanisms, are designed with a clear understanding of the gender-specific effects of climate change.

On this, the world can learn much from the example set by Emirati women at Cop28. Their leadership has shown that when women are encouraged to take to the global climate stage, they can drive meaningful, transformative change.

As we prepare for Cop29, let us commit to putting gender-responsive climate finance in the spotlight. By doing so, we can build on the legacy of the Emirati women who have dedicated their efforts to ensuring that gender equality is at the heart of our climate finance and action policies.