This month more than 100 leaders and government officials are headed to New York for the UN climate summit. 1 Million Women will be keeping you up-to-date with all of the news and developments as they happen.
Last week one young woman found out she has won the opportunity to address world leaders on current climate action plans.
She tells the UN website:
“I'm really excited for this opportunity to speak on an issue that is really close to my heart, I want to bring my people's message out to the world, that climate change is a threat that we need to take more seriously. I hope that my participation in this event will make a contribution.”
This was the first open competition run by the UN to select members of the public to address World Leaders. It’s clearly a very effective idea, receiving over 544 “mini-videos” from passionate young women, advising those in charge to reduce c02 emissions. These videos have come from around the world, many from small island countries already feeling the devastating effects of climate change like the Marshall and Solomon Islands. You can see all the video submissions by clicking here.
The competition rules specify that all entries were submitted by women under 30, giving a voice to the next generation of concerned climate activists.
Why Women?
Many are questioning the women only rule, saying it is sexist or manipulative - but main organiser, Susan Alzner explained this element to BBC news :
“If you consider the huge challenges that still exist for so many women across the world to realise their rights to participate in government and how important it is to show young women that they have this right, then we should give the one available slot to speak to more than 100 heads of state to a young woman.
“Women disproportionately experience the impacts of climate change in particular because 70% of the lowest income people worldwide are women."
"Fully combating climate change is going to require women’s full empowerment everywhere. It is essential that we give women the space to speak on this critical topic that is an existential threat to humanity."
BBC news also explains:
“The organisers are hoping the chosen one will electrify the conference as Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai did when addressing the UN in 2013 as part of her campaign to ensure free compulsory education for every child.”
38 applicants were selected to participate in the conference, 3 to join a panel and just 1 will be selected as the voice of her generation and to speak in the opening ceremony. We are very much looking forward to Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner’s speech.
Keep checking back for the latest news and developments around the New York Climate Summit.