Proposer: National Council of Women of Great Britain
Seconder: National Council of Women of Canada

Shocked by the accelerating pace of climate change and the alarming trends reported by UNEP, we face a grim reality: greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, global temperatures are breaking records, and vulnerable populations are already bearing the brunt of these changes. On July 22, 2024, the world witnessed a new daily global average temperature record. The UN Secretary- General has issued a stark warning in the lead-up to COP29, cautioning that global heating is poised to surpass the critical 1.5-degree threshold above pre- industrial levels in the near future. UNEP emphasizes that we are grappling with a human-induced triple planetary crisis – climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste– which is pushing our planet’s ecosystems to their limits,

Recognising the global nature of this crisis, we acknowledge that all countries both suffer from and contribute to climate change to varying degrees, necessitating concerted international action. The lack of global cooperation, inadequate governance of essential energy and land transformations, and the rise in resource-intensive consumption patterns stand as significant obstacles in addressing climate change effectively. UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 underscores the urgency of taking action to combat climate change and its far- reaching impacts, emphasizing the need for immediate and collaborative efforts on a global scale,

Noting the recent United Nations Environment Assembly resolution, which emphasizes the importance of enhanced cooperation among Member States in implementing their environmental commitments. This resolution underscores the need for collaborative efforts to address global environmental challenges effectively,

Recognising the critical importance of preventing the crossing of environmental tipping points to maintain liveable conditions on Earth and ensure societal stability. These tipping points, such as the potential destabilization of the Amazon rainforest, the Greenland ice sheet, and Gulf Stream currents, pose significant risks of triggering cascading effects that could dramatically alter our planet’s ecosystems and climate systems,

deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress alone. The suffering experienced by women, children, and men in many countries due to extreme heat, drought, floods, and storms is a growing concern, with heat-related deaths among those over 65 having risen by 70% in just two decades,

Repeating the call for increased support for women, given their crucial role in ensuring food resilience and providing food and water for their families in the face of escalating climate change impacts,

Reasserting the importance of prioritizing aid to women and girls in developing countries, recognizing their unique vulnerabilities and essential roles in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN (ICW) CALLS UPON AFFILIATED NATIONAL COUNCILS TO:

• Lobby their governments to work with the global community to strengthen climate action plans for urgent and transformative action to reduce global warming;
• Document and share with the ICW the effects of climate change in their country, especially the effects on women and girls;
• Document and share with the ICW examples of best practices in tackling climate change in their country – prevention and mitigation measures.