So I booked into a session being run by the Mary Robinson Foundation simply because I was interested to hear more about the work the former President of Ireland was engaged in since joining the UN. I have been an avid fan of the former president for a long time and have admired her bravery in calling nations, including the USA, to account in the exploitation and neglect of young people, women and girls. She has been a steadfast supporter of work to reduce the global impact of climate change and has long worked to help others to understand the real needs of rural women which have come about as a result of the changes that are happening on the planet.
At the opening of the session she said 'Those who are impacted most by the effects of climate change are those who are least responsible for causing it'. A wry thought in my head was that I had used a similar line in my talk about Brexit and Rural Women living in the Border Regions of NI.
Imagine my delight and surprise when I turned up early to a packed room and saw Former President Robinson and Geraldine Byrne Nason ( Chair of this weeks conference and also the Irish Ambassador) sitting at the table. I can't describe my delight but suffice to say a lovely generous woman beside me, saw my enthusiastic delight ( I have a rubbish poker face!) and quickly vacated her seat in order that I would enjoy the experience from the comfort of a table and chair. I will be eternally grateful to her for that opportunity.
In the session we heard how for many rural women climate change causes them to have to adapt to new ways of rearing animals, organizing water collection and accessing firewood. As drought hits some regions, the issue of climate change then impacts on the ability of children to go to school or attend healthcare - they are busy collecting water from further and further away - for some this can be as much as 720 hours a year just collecting water. Water collection at such distances is fraught with danger and many young girls are vulnerable to danger from animals, disease, kidnapping, rape and other violent crime.
We heard from one nation that the purchase of a solar powered clean energy cooking stove can change that existence for many - reliable fuel from solar energy can; sterilize water making it safer to drink, provide energy for a hot meal/making basic bread, reduce time and disease risk from firewood collection, enable mothers to be freed up to do other things.....All positive outcomes from the use of simple but effective technology.
But the other side of clean energy was also discussed. One group of women from Northern Kenya talked about the growth of huge wind farms that generate substantial energy daily, all of which is exported to Nairobi. So while Nairobi benefits from the energy provided in Northern Kenya, people in Kenya still live without access to affordable accessible energy.
This issue of big corporations having little or no responsibility to local landowners, local people and those who live in the shadow of the wind generating structures resonated with me in light of some of the local battles communities are having to prevent development of huge wind farms in areas which are regarded as being natural sites of beauty and environmental protection.
The issue of justice and cases of many indigenous women dying or being killed in order to protect land and the development of land/exploitation of resources was mentioned a number of times. The destruction of native lands and the lack of access to legal support, legislation and protection is a worldwide problem and little is being done to protect them.
Another nation said don't start to develop Aid action plans without dialogue. 'Start with Us' they said. We need to be a part of the solution. We need to work with Aid providers to encourage the community and the leaders to come on board - we need to work with the Aid agencies to find a way that suits those who are local leaders as well as those who have responsibility for spending the 'aid money'/ organizing the development actions.
One nation spoke candidly about cultural traditions and how sensitive they are to outsiders knowing their methods and approaches to harvesting, farming and managing local resources. the sharing of this knowledge is handed down from males to males simply because men do not leave home when they marry and women often do. She stated this knowledge is scared and protected in her culture and that agencies who come to the area must take account of that.
The session recognized that in some areas of the world whole communities of men have left the rural regions to seek work in urban centers and women, left behind with families to feed from the land locally, are working to address the impact of climate change and are working daily to overcome the challenge of that change. The gender impact of climate change has not been measured and it was stated that when every nation has gathered the data it needs as part of the national gender action plan then the true impact of climate change on rural women will be more evident.
The session looked at the global impact of climate change from Ireland to Figi to Nairobi to Pakistan to New Zealand. It was obvious that in this small gathering the knowledge of the participants and the learning from the experiences of each region could be a powerful global resource to support other regions who are really struggling with the changes as they take place around the world.
Finally, I will say that I unashamedly pushed my way through the crowd along with Catherine from the National Womens Council of Ireland ( whom I actually dragged along, as she was much shier than me) to access a photo opportunity with president Robinson. A true high point of this whole experience!
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