Understanding the systematic and historical inequalities caused by colonialism, extractivism, patriarchy, and militarism is important to being knowledgeable about our environment.
Meet our Executive Director Ms. Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo-Wondieh speak on behalf of the Women’s Working Group to the UN at Stockholm +50 on the importance of women, young people, rural communities and indigenous people in promoting a sustainable earth and protecting human health and wellbeing from the effects of persistent organic pollutants.
Stockholm +50 aimed at commemorating 50 years post the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment that made our earth, its environment and habitat a rising and pressing issue for global concern for the first time. Leading to the creation of the UN Environment Program as an outcome from the conference which had over 122 countries in attendance, a series of principles were adopted by the participants which included The Stockholm Declaration and Action Plan for the Human Environment.
Half a century later, the world is at an even crucial stage when it comes to our environment and global habitat. With climate change challenges, biodiversity loss, waste pollution and natural disasters constantly posing a threat to our environment, the time is now, for all to put in a hand towards protecting the health of our planet by fighting persistent organic pollution which despite its horrendous effect on our lives and health, continuously and disproportionately affect women and girls, and gender diverse people.
Together we can, and indeed we should,
What we need is a shift away from the current dominant systems of oppression and exploitation of the people and our planet, and as feminists, we call on us all, decision makers and guardians of our planet to;
- Divest from fossil fuels, stop the wars and redirect budgets to invest in care and in equitable recovery,
- Enact reparations for both institutionalized racism and climate damage, to advance environmental and economic justice. We call on this assembly to commit to a Loss and Damage fund,
- Ensure that women and feminist organisations have a permanent seat at all decision making tables, and are implementors of environmental and climate policies, centering the leadership of the global South women, girls, and gender-diverse people to influence these strategic spaces,
- Protect women environmental defenders, by implementing the Resolution on the Human Rights to a healthy, safe and clean environment that was adopted a few months back and,
- Advance a feminist vision for a decolonial green deal, to shift towards regenerative economies that center care for people and planet and ensure women’s human rights and a peaceful and healthy planet for all.
With Stockholm +50 closing with calls for urgent environmental and economic transformation, this year’s commemoration was all about showing to the world that environmental multilateralism works, and yes, together we can and we should take countless steps towards protecting and preserving a green future.
