COP29: Only 8 out of 78 world leaders attending are women – CARE

November 12, 2024 – Women and girls bear the brunt of the climate crisis and often design the solutions, yet only 8 out of the 78 world leaders participating in COP29 are women: while the Conference of Parties (COP) strive to be an inclusive summit, the negotiation table remains far from diverse.

Delegations at the United Nations’ Framework Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) are consistently increasing in numbers, but women’s representation has stagnated and even decreased. At COP28 in 2023, women were 15 out of the 133 world leaders and only 34% of national delegates, with a mere 2% of delegations having a gender balance in their ranks. These numbers have remained relatively unchanged over the past decade, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving gender parity in climate negotiations.

The underrepresentation of women leaders at the top table of COP29 is mirrored across all levels of climate decision making. Yet, evidence clearly show that women amplify solutions and drive adaptation initiatives around the globe, including with innovative agricultural practises or water management techniques. Women’s knowledge and perspective increase communities’ resilience and should have a seat – and a saying – at the negotiation table.

Rosa van Driel, Policy Advisor Climate Justice, CARE Netherlands
“The climate crisis is driven by political and economic policies decided by predominantly male-led governments. When women’s insights are ignored, we miss out on solutions that are fairer and more sustainable. Evidence shows that gender-equitable decision-making at all levels leads to more effective climate governance and helps to close adaptation gaps and avoid maladaptation initiatives that do more harm than good.”

Francesca Rhodes, Senior Policy Adviser on Climate and Gender, CARE International UK
”Climate change is sexist. At every level, there is gender inequality in decision making around how to tackle the climate crisis, whilst at the same time the impacts are being felt strongest by women and girls already facing poverty and marginalisation. We need world leaders to ensure the priorities and experiences of those on the frontlines are what drives outcomes at COP. The UK Government has an opportunity to put its promises into action, for example, though ensuring crucial climate finance better reaches women and women’s rights organisations in communities tackling the climate crisis.’

Titilope Gbemisola Akosa, Founding Executive Director, Centre for 21st Issues (CARE Partner)
“In Nigeria, women and girls are already experiencing the worst impacts of climate change. Yet they are the ones leading the charge in tackling these impacts in their communities, and creating solutions for how best to adapt. We need the expertise, experience and perspectives that women bring; it’s critical that their work on the ground, and their effective leadership, is brought to the table in an international setting. To shut them out yet again, as the world stands on the precipice of irreversible damage from climate change, is unacceptable.”

For media inquiries, contact: Monica Ellena, Global Advocacy and Communication Lead at CARE’s Climate Justice Center, ellena@careinternational.org, or usa.media@care.org.

Notes to Editors

The number is taken from the COP29 family photo, which can be accessed here.

Spokespeople are available at COP29, including:

1. Marlene Achoki, Global Policy Lead, CARE Climate Justice Center (based in Kenya)
2. Titilope Gbemisola Akosa, Founding Director of Centre for 21st Century Issues, Nigeria
3. Chikondi Chabvuta, Southern Africa Region Advocacy Advisor, CARE Malawi
4. Rosa van Driel, Senior Gender Advisor, CARE Netherlands
5. Francesca Rhodes, Sr. Advocacy Advisor on Gender and Climate Justice, CARE UK

CARE can also share case studies with interviews, photos and videos of women and girls affected by climate change.

• CARE is a pioneer in climate justice. In 2002 CARE Bangladesh launched the first climate community-based climate adaptation project, aimed at reducing the vulnerability to climate change-related disasters. In 2023, CARE implemented 273 projects contributing to building climate resilience for 4,5 million people in 62 countries.
• For more information about the impact of climate change on women and girls and their critical role in driving adaptation solutions, see CARE’s reports “Beyond a seat at the table” (CARE France, 2024) and “Breaking the barriers” (CARE USA, 2024)
• CARE’s COP29 Position Paper can be accessed here (in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish).