COP29 Feminist Reflections: COP29’s Climate Betrayal: Where Are Women in the Justice Equation?

COP29’s Climate Betrayal: Where Are Women in the Justice Equation?

COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024, will be remembered for its rhetoric of ambition but disappointing outcomes, especially from a feminist and gender-justice lens. Touted as the “Finance COP,” it revolved around the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, a critical successor to the unfulfilled $100 billion annual commitment made in 2009. While the need to scale up financial flows to address the climate crisis was emphasized, the summit starkly exposed the inequities of the global climate regime, particularly for women and marginalized communities in the Global South.

The Finance Betrayal: Justice Deferred

Despite civil society’s call for at least $5 trillion annually, including $1 trillion specifically for developing nations, the proposed NCQG of $300 billion by 2035 fell woefully short. The outcomes were aptly labeled the “Betrayal in Baku,” underscoring a persistent pattern of broken promises. This inadequacy is not merely a financial shortfall—it is a climate genocide for vulnerable nations.

The limited financial ambition sidelines gender and social justice, ignoring how women, particularly in Africa and Asia, disproportionately bear the brunt of climate disasters. These funds are crucial for enabling women-led grassroots initiatives, ensuring access to adaptation technologies, and addressing systemic barriers exacerbated by climate change.

Historical Responsibility Meets Climate Injustice

The principle of “polluters pay,” reiterated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, remains largely unfulfilled. Historical emitters in the Global North—responsible for the lion’s share of greenhouse gas emissions—continue to shirk their financial obligations. Meanwhile, the Global South, contributing less than 1% to global emissions, faces the harshest impacts.

Countries like Pakistan, Mozambique, and Bangladesh exemplify this injustice. Pakistan’s catastrophic 2022 floods displaced millions and caused over $30 billion in damages. Women bore the burden of caregiving, food security, and rebuilding, often without financial or institutional support. During the 2022 floods, an estimated 75,000 pregnant women were forced to give birth in makeshift shelters without access to medical care. Amid the chaos of displacement and migration, numerous incidents of sexual assault and harassment were also reported, highlighting the heightened vulnerabilities faced by women during the disaster. Similarly, African nations face severe climate impacts, threatening livelihoods and increasing gender disparities. These crises demand a reimagined climate finance framework prioritizing equity and inclusion.

Debt Justice: Breaking the Shackles

A feminist perspective on climate finance cannot ignore the crippling debt that stifles developing nations. Pakistan’s debt of over $125 billion hampers its ability to invest in climate resilience. At COP29, calls for grants instead of loans echoed strongly, framing debt as a barrier to gender-equitable development.

Debt relief is not just an economic necessity; it is a gender issue. Women in debt-ridden nations are disproportionately affected by austerity measures that slash social services, healthcare, and education. A just transition requires grants to empower frontline communities, especially women, enabling them to lead adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Loss and Damage: A Lifeline Delayed

The Loss and Damage Fund, celebrated as a milestone at COP27, remained underfunded and poorly operationalized at COP29. For millions of women in climate-vulnerable nations, this fund is not just financial support; it is a lifeline. Whether rebuilding homes after floods or securing livelihoods in drought-stricken areas, women are often at the forefront of resilience efforts. Yet, their voices were largely absent in the discussions, reflecting a broader exclusion of gendered perspectives in climate negotiations.

Renewable Futures: Opportunities for the Global South

The Global South stands at a crossroads. While the Global North developed through fossil fuel-driven industrialization, the South has an opportunity to leapfrog to clean energy solutions. Projects like Mission 300 and clean cooking initiatives must be recalibrated to address the real needs of women rather than relying on false solutions such as gas-based systems. These gas-centric approaches often exacerbate health issues for women, particularly in the Global South, where they are disproportionately responsible for household energy use.

While Mission 300 aims to electrify 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 through renewable mini-grids and solar systems, it should integrate a gender-responsive lens. The focus must extend beyond simply providing energy access to ensuring that this access empowers women, reduces their energy burden, and addresses associated health risks. Clean cooking projects, similarly, should prioritize sustainable energy sources that align with women’s health and socio-economic realities, moving away from harmful fossil-based solutions that perpetuate health disparities.

A feminist approach advocates for investments in renewable energy that prioritize women’s empowerment. Solar and wind projects not only mitigate emissions but also provide opportunities for women’s employment, education, and community leadership. 

Carbon Markets: False Promises, Real Threats

Carbon markets dominated COP29 discussions, promoted by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) as a panacea. Yet, these markets often benefit corporate entities at the expense of frontline communities. Critics warned of “carbon cowboys” exploiting land and resources, particularly in LDCs, where women farmers and Indigenous communities face displacement under the guise of carbon-offset projects.

For these mechanisms to serve justice, they must be reformed to prioritize transparency, equity, and the inclusion of grassroots voices. Without such changes, carbon markets risk deepening gender and social inequalities.

Global South Solidarity: A Feminist Path Forward

Amid the disheartening outcomes of COP29, the rise of Global South cooperation offers a glimmer of hope. African and Asian nations along with the global civil society increasingly advocate collectively for justice, emphasizing shared challenges and solutions. From demanding fair finance to championing loss and damage, grants and not loans, their solidarity is a powerful counter to the Global North’s dominance.

A feminist approach amplifies this cooperation, highlighting the need to center women’s voices and experiences in these alliances. Women-led networks across the Global South are already mobilizing for climate action, advocating for policies and Pay up campaigns that address both environmental and social injustices. 

Conclusion: Justice at the Core

COP29 revealed the persistent gap between promises and action in the global climate agenda. For justice to prevail, the world must scale up financial commitments, prioritize grants over loans, and operationalize inclusive mechanisms like the Loss and Damage Fund.

A feminist perspective demands that we see beyond numbers to the human stories behind the climate crisis. Women in the Global South are not passive victims but active agents of change. To scale down emissions and scale up justice, the world must place their leadership and resilience at the center of the climate agenda. Only then can we truly address the inequities of the climate crisis and build a sustainable, equitable future.