Pacific Women Demand Equal Role in Pre-COP31 Climate Talks
Nalini Singh and the Fiji Women's Rights Movement are calling for women's inclusion in global climate decision-making to address gendered environmental impacts.
Pacific women are demanding a central role in global climate discussions as leaders convene in Fiji for Pre-COP31. The push for inclusion follows the release of a research report titled 'Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Building a Pacific movement for greater gender justice, climate and water,' which argues that excluding women from decision-making circles exacerbates gendered climate impacts across the region.
Nalini Singh, executive director of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement and co-author of the study, states that patriarchal customary structures allow men to dominate negotiations. This imbalance leads to the neglect of critical needs, including menstrual health, water security, and the provision of proper infrastructure during community relocations.
Singh advocates for treating Pacific women, including gender-diverse people and women with disabilities, as equal decision-makers. She argues that integrating these specific experiences is essential for creating effective climate adaptation and financing strategies.
