R4: On women and climate change in Europe

The European Union has a long-standing commitment to gender equality: it is a Treaty obligation, a core EU value, a fundamental right, a key principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and a necessary condition for the achievement of the EU objectives of growth and social cohesion. The Gender
Equality Strategy 2020-2025 recognises the importance of diversity and intersectionality. It also outlines a set of key actions including ending gender-based violence and stereotypes, ensuring equal participation and opportunities in the labour market, and achieving gender balance in policy- and
decision-making (gender-based violence is the violence against people on the grounds of gender, gender identity, and gender expression or sex characteristics, of which women, girls and LGBTQI people are by far the majority of victims). .

Yet, and although the first Commissioner for Equality has been appointed, climate action and gender equality remain compartmentalised. The European Climate Law, adopted in June 2021, does not take into account gender inequalities, but states that "the transition must be fair and inclusive, leaving no one behind". The EU Recovery plan states that 37% of spending will be allocated to climate action and 20% to the digital transition. But the allocation of spending on gender equality is not specified. The adjustment to Objective 55 includes the Social Climate Fund, which states that "Fuel poverty alone affects up to 34 million people in the EU today", buthowever, it makes no reference to the linkages between gender and fuel poverty.

The European Parliament study on gender and energy notes that "because they have a lower average income, women (particularly those supporting single parent households) are more at risk of fuel poverty than men". Moreover, since the end of 2021, the sharp rise in energy prices particularly affects women and girls from ethnic minorities, migrant women and girls, women with disabilities, single mothers and older women. Studies show that almost half
of single-parent families in the EU are threatened by poverty and social exclusion, and almost 9 out of 10 single parents are women. Moreover, lower-income single women, especially ageing women, are most at risk of poverty. Women are the ones who suffer most from inequality in the workplace, whether it is
unequal pay, which continues to be perpetuated in thousands of companies, unequal access to employment, maternity issues, the reconciliation of work and family life or even fighting against various forms of violence and discrimination. If women are disproportionately present in the poorest strata,
they are also present in the oldest strata of the population and therefore the most vulnerable. These concerns fuel a major justice issue: in general, women contribute less to emissions because they have less spending power.

The European Parliament study on gender and energy notes that "because they have a lower average income, women are more at risk of fuel poverty than men". Moreover, since the end of 2021, the sharp rise in energy prices particularly affects women and girls from ethnic minorities, migrant women and girls, women with disabilities, single mothers and older women. Studies show that almost half
of single-parent families in the EU are threatened by poverty and social exclusion, and almost 9 out of 10 single parents are women. Moreover, lower-income single women, especially ageing women, are most at risk of poverty. Women are the ones who suffer the most from inequality in the workplace, whether it is
unequal pay, which continues to be perpetuated in thousands of companies, unequal access to employment, maternity issues, the reconciliation of work and family life or even fighting against various forms of violence and discrimination. If women are disproportionately present in the poorest strata,
they are also present in the oldest strata of the population and therefore the most vulnerable. These concerns fuel a major justice issue: in general, women contribute less to emissions because they have less spending power.

The European Parliament study on gender and energy notes that "because they have a lower average income, women are more at risk of fuel poverty than men". Moreover, since the end of 2021, the sharp rise in energy prices particularly affects women and girls from ethnic minorities, migrant women and girls, women with disabilities, single mothers and older women. Studies show that almost half
of single-parent families in the EU are threatened by poverty and social exclusion, and almost 9 out of 10 single parents are women. Moreover, lower-income single women, especially ageing women, are most at risk of poverty. Women are the ones who suffer most from inequality in the workplace, whether it is
unequal pay, which continues to be perpetuated in thousands of companies, unequal access to employment, maternity issues, the reconciliation of work and family life or even fighting against various forms of violence and discrimination. If women are disproportionately present in the poorest strata,
they are also present in the oldest strata of the population and therefore the most vulnerable. These concerns fuel a major justice issue: in generalalthough they are on average more affected by climate change, women -in general- contribute less to emissions because they have less spending power.

The European Parliament study on gender and energy notes that "because they have a lower average income, women are more at risk of fuel poverty than men". Moreover, since the end of 2021, the sharp rise in energy prices particularly affects women and girls from racial and ethnic minorities, migrant women and girls, women with disabilities, single mothers and older women. Studies show that almost half
of single-parent families in the EU are threatened by poverty and social exclusion, and almost 9 out of 10 single parents are women. Moreover, lower-income single women, especially ageing women, are most at risk of poverty. Women are the ones who suffer most from inequality in the workplace, whether it is
unequal pay, which continues to be perpetuated in thousands of companies, unequal access to employment, maternity issues, the reconciliation of work and family life or even fighting against various forms of violence and discrimination. If women are disproportionately present in the poorest strata,
they are also present in the oldest strata of the population and therefore the most vulnerable. These concerns fuel a major justice issue: in general, women contribute less to emissions because they have less spending power.

At the same time, the most severe consequences of climate change are being observed in the EU’s Southern countries. In these territories, women are disproportionately represented among the poorest and most marginalised segments of the population. They are more likely to live in flood-prone areas, or in housing without air-conditioning during summer heat waves – as we sawexperienced once again this summer.

AtIn the same timeEU, for example, the most severe consequences of climate change are being observed in the EU’s Southern countries. In these territories, women are disproportionately represented among the poorest and most marginalised segments of the population. They are more likely to live in flood-prone areas, or in housing without air-conditioning during summer heat waves – as we saw once again this summer.

At the same time, the most severe consequences of climate change are being observed in the EU’s Southern countries. Over their shoulders they carry the cost of an underfunded welfare State. After their official daywork women still have a second daywork of caring, reproductive and domestic tasks due to the absence of proper policies and the small implication of men in these activities. In these territories, women are disproportionately represented among the poorest and most marginalised segments of the population. They are more likely to live in flood-prone areas, or in housing without air-conditioning during summer heat waves – as we saw once again this summer.

Women in poor communities are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihoods, particularly in rural areas where the effects of climate change and climate hazards have unequal impacts. Agricultural policies based on intensive production models and greater investments in energy production and in mining activities in ecologically vulnerable areas, under the aegis of the energy transition, not only leave women – whose economic activities largely depend on equitable access to natural resources – more vulnerable, but also put the balance of ecosystems at risk. Women in rural areas play a central role in the socio-economic development of a region, they are agents of change, especially for the sustainable use and conservation of resources, even though women have less access than men to resources such as land, investments, agricultural inputs, decision-making structures, technology, training and extension services that would enhance their capacity to adapt to climate change. When disasters strike, women are less likely to survive and more likely to be injured due to long-standing gender inequalities that have created disparities in information, mobility, decision-making, and access to resources and training.

Women in poor communities are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihoods, particularly in rural areas where the effects of climate change and climate hazards have unequal impacts. Agricultural policies based on intensive production models and greater investments in fossil energy production and in mining activities in ecologically vulnerable areas, under the aegis of the energy transition, not only leave women – whose economic activities largely depend on equitable access to natural resources – more vulnerable, but also put the balance of ecosystems at risk. Women in rural areas play a central role in the socio-economic development of a region, especially for the sustainable use and conservation of resources, even though women have less access than men to resources such as land, investments, agricultural inputs, decision-making structures, technology, training and extension services that would enhance their capacity to adapt to climate change. When disasters strike, women are less likely to survive and more likely to be injured due to long-standing gender inequalities that have created disparities in information, mobility, decision-making, and access to resources and training.

Moreover, we cannot undervalue the role of women in the education, training and empowerment of future generations, considering that, in the EU, women not only women have higher graduation rates than men but also because there are also more women than men working as educators and teachers at all levels of education. It is therefore importantTherefore, women are key to strengthen the educational, academic and investigation areas to raise awareness and impel next generations to action, developing an inter- and intra-generational network, so that they can take well-informed and effective action in the future. As such, empowering young people is a priority. Education on climate action is key as young children are far more vulnerable to climate-related disasters and associated health risks than any other social group.

Moreover, we cannot undervalue the role of women in the education, training and empowerment of future generations, considering that, in the EU, women not only have higher graduation rates than men but also because there are more women than men working as educators and teachers at all levels of education. It is therefore important to strengthen the educational, academic and investigation areas to raise awareness and impel next generations to action, developing an inter- and intra-generational network, so that they can take well-informed and effective action in the future. However, the number of women undertaking technical and scientific education paths is dramatically lower than the number of men, for cultural, social and historical reasons. It is fundamental to fill this gap through encouraging young women and removing any socio-economic barrier of access. As such, empowering young people is a priority. Education on climate action is key as young children are far more vulnerable to climate-related disasters and associated health risks than any other social group.

Moreover, we cannot undervalue the role of women in the education, training and empowerment of future generations, considering that, in the EU, women not only have higher graduation rates than men but also because there are more women than men working as educators and teachers at all levels of education. It is therefore important to strengthen the educational, academic and investigation areas to raise awareness and impel next generations to action, developing an inter- and intra-generational network, so that they can take well-informed and effective action in the future. As such, empowering young people is a priority. Education on climate action is key as young children are far more vulnerable to climate-related disasters and associated health risks than any other social group.

It also has to be recognised that trans women are disproportionately affected by the socio-economical and societal factors discriminating women in this patriarchal society. Climate change has a profound impact on the living and work conditions and societal participation of trans women, which has to be taken into account when making policy.

Moreover, we cannot undervalue the role of women in the education, training and empowerment of future generations, considering that, in the EU, women not only have higher graduation rates than men but also because there are more women than men working as educators and teachers at all levels of education. It is therefore important to strengthen the educational, academic and investigation areas to raise awareness and impel next generations to action, developing an inter- and intra-generational network, so that they can take well-informed and effective action in the future. As such, empowering young people is a priority. Education on climate action is key as young children are far more vulnerable to climate-related disasters and associated health risks than any other social group.
Delete paragraph beginning "Moreover, we cannot undervalue of the role of women..." and replace with “There is a high percentage of women working in education, leading to the responsibility of climate education being placed on them. It is therefore important to strengthen the educational, academic and investigation areas to raise awareness and impel next generations to action, developing an inter- and intra-generational network, so that they can take well-informed and effective action in the future. As such, empowering young people is a priority. Education on climate action is key as young children are far more vulnerable to climate-related disasters and associated health risks than any other social group. However, the role of climate education should not fall solely on any marginalised group who are more exposed to the impacts of climate change, but rather be integrated into community-based learning.”

Taking gender into account at all stage of policymaking is crucial because we need to:

• to support women and vulnerable groups to defend climat protection as a fundamental right before the European Court of Human rights.

Unless gender equality is explicitly included in policies, programmes and projects, gender inequalities which are deeply rooted in social norms, practices and institutions, will persist. As EGP, we want to stress that this does not only include the rights of women but also the rights of everyone who does not fall into the binary categories of women and men. Thus, for the European Greens, the following elements are crucial: