The Call for Equitable Finance Campaign

The Call for Just Finance is a global campaign initiated by women from Southeastern Europe, launched on November 1, 2024. It aims to unite women leaders from national and local authorities, women's groups, feminist initiatives, and allied organizations to advocate for equitable climate finance. The campaign emphasizes the interconnectedness of climate change and gender, focusing on four key roles of women in society:

1. Women as Family Caregivers

Women disproportionately bear the burden of household work and caring for children, the sick, and the elderly. Disasters such as the 2004 Asian tsunami, where 70% of victims were women, demonstrate how cultural and religious norms, gender roles, and caregiving responsibilities can limit women’s mobility and decision-making in emergencies. The education of women has a direct impact on resilience, with studies showing that child mortality decreases by 9.5% for every additional year of education for women of reproductive age.

2. Women as Workers

Gender inequality persists in the workforce. Globally, women earn 24% less than men and hold only 25% of administrative and managerial roles. In many countries, laws restrict women's economic opportunities, further limiting their access to well-paying jobs and leadership positions. The Commission on the Status of Women highlights the structural barriers women face, including gender stereotypes, unequal working conditions, and limited access to resources, which hinder their economic empowerment and ability to combat climate change effectively.

3. Women as Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs play a critical role in economic development and environmental sustainability. Research from the McKinsey Global Institute suggests that if women participated in the economy on par with men, they could add $28 trillion to global GDP by 2025. Women's involvement is essential in disaster risk management, where they are effective in mobilizing communities throughout the risk management cycle. Investing in women’s social and economic development will enable them to reach their full potential and contribute effectively to climate resilience. However, women face significant challenges in accessing climate finance, land, technology, and social capital, which limits their ability to recover from weather-related losses and implement adaptation measures.

4. Women as Change Agents

For climate actions to be effective, women's knowledge, skills, and perspectives must be integrated into planning and decision-making processes at all levels. Increasing women's participation in climate change policy development and execution yields mutual benefits, advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 13 (climate action). Women's full and equal participation in decision-making is essential for achieving sustainable development and addressing climate challenges.