Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said she is “appalled” at Azerbaijan’s decision not to include any women in the organising committee for the COP29 global climate change summit.
Azerbaijan, which has been named as the host nation of the summit for 2024, has not included a single woman in the 28-member committee, which is tasked with organising the summit.
The lack of women on the committee contrasts sharply with last year, when the host country, the United Arab Emirates, had a committee comprised of 63 per cent women.
“I was appalled to learn that the 2024 host country, Azerbaijan, has announced its organising committee – and not a single woman is among its 28 members,” Gillard said in a statement.
“We know that climate change affects the whole world, but it disproportionately affects women,” she continued.
“Research shows women and girls are more likely to be poor and socially disadvantaged, putting them at greater risk from the impacts of climate change.”
According to UN Environment, 80 per cent of people displaced by climate change are women. Climate change has been described as a “threat multiplier” for women, posing threats to livelihoods, health, safety and security for women and girls globally. Women continue to remain vastly underrepresented in global climate talks. Last year, only 15 out of the 140 speakers at the COP28 climate summit were women.
Gilllard went on to encourage Azerbaijan “to reconsider” its decision and ensure equal representation on the organising committee for COP29.
“Gender equality must be taken into account when devising strategies to tackle this growing threat and women’s voices must be heard,” she said.
Nearly all members of the organising committee are government officials, ministers or heads of state agencies, including the General Director of Azerbaijan’s state gas distribution network.
— Julia Gillard (@JuliaGillard) January 17, 2024
Azerbaijan’s ecology and natural resources minister Mukhtar Babayev, has been chosen as the future president of COP29. As The Guardian reported, he has a 26-year history working for the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic.
SHE Changes Climate, a global movement amplifying the role of women in climate action, said in a statement that the all-male organising committee was a “regressive step” and also asked for a “firewall” between the fossil fuel industry and the COP Presidency, citing the need for “environmental integrity”.
“We are inviting Azerbaijan to endorse the inclusion and diversity principles and include as many women as possible on the COP29 Organisational Committee,” the organisation said. “The UAE set the pace last year: the COP28 Committee consisted of 63% women.”
“SHE Changes Climate stands ready to support the women that will be appointed. We will also do everything possible to ensure that the progress made in Dubai is being consolidated.
“With the world nearing the 1.5 degree temperature increase, it is paramount that we move on the urgent fossil fuel phase out in this decade.There is no time to slide back on previous commitments.”