Zonta Says NOW

ZONTA SAYS NOW – WHY?

BECAUSE WE NEED CLIMATE JUSTICE.

ZONTA SAYS NOW TO GENDER-EQUAL CLIMATE ACTION! 

Millions of people have already lost their homes and livelihoods due to extreme weather events caused by climate change. Most of them are women.

During climate-related disasters, women are at greater risk of injury or death, losing their livelihoods, or being forced into slave labour or prostitution.

Girls and women are responsible for food, water, energy and other basic necessities, as well as caring for children and the elderly. This means they face more obstacles than men when it comes to leaving areas that are vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters.

• 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. (UNFPA Climate Empower project)
• By 2050, 216 million people will be forced to move within their own countries due to climate change (World Bank’s 2021 Groundswell report).
• Currently, climate change forces at least 12.5 million girls, mainly in low-income countries in Africa, to give up their education every year (UNFPA Climate Empower project).
• In sub-Saharan Africa, 600 million people still have no access to electricity. Women are responsible for energy choices and have a better understanding of how to protect and use resources.
• Clean water and washing facilities are key to the health of women and girls. Women in drought and flood areas suffer from urinary tract and genital infections.
• If the average temperature rises by even one degree, women lose a third more of their income than men (UNFPA Climate Empower project).
• Women account for less than 30% of the world's climate agreement bodies. (UN Foundation)

90% of global carbon dioxide emissions come from the use of coal, oil and natural gas. The remaining 10% comes from deforestation. Without addressing the use of fossil fuels, the results will remain meagre. (Petteri Taalas)

We Zontas

1. We will increase our own and local knowledge about climate change and its gender-specific consequences.
2. We include women affected by climate change in our advocacy plans
3. We support women's access to national and local decision-making bodies on sustainable development.
4. We promote girls' education, the inclusion of climate awareness in school curricula, and girls' participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies, so that women's scientific and technical expertise can mitigate the effects of climate change on women.
5. We influence national policy on women's economic opportunities and ensure their full and equal participation in the economy.

Watch the video Planetary meal and zontas 

Background to the campaign

Facts

ZI statement

Challenge for members

A challenge for governments

What we can do

Basis for club activities

Plastic, food, textiles

Examples of Planetary meals served on Mother Earth Day on 22 April and tips for home cooking