Sarah Champion attends “green-bombing” of Millicent Fawcett statue
Millicent Fawcett statue “green bombed” to highlight climate crisis as this century’s feminist struggle Rotherham MP, Sarah Champion joined activists and parliamentarians this morning at the statue of suffragist Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square as she was “green-bombed” today [Wednesday 22 September], during Great Big Green Week, as part of #Wednesday4Women, a day of action for climate justice and gender equality ahead of COP26.
The stunt, arranged on behalf of CrackTheCrises coalition, took place as campaigners delivered a letter to President for COP26, Alok Sharma MP, signed by charities, campaigners and celebrities. Both stunt and letter highlight that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis and must be central to solutions to tackle it.
Sarah Champion MP said “It was an absolute pleasure to take part in this morning’s ‘green-bombing. It is right that this important issue is raised ahead of COP26. Women and girls should not be disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. I am proud to have signed the letter to Alok Sharma MP and hope that he takes our concerns seriously”
Gender equality campaigner Helen Pankhurst attended, while the statue, representing last century’s foremost feminist struggle for women’s suffrage, was surrounded by a miniature forest – highlighting the most critical feminist issue of the 21st Century: the climate crisis. The statue, which holds a placard reading “Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere”, bore a new temporary placard, reading “Courage calls to Climate Action Everywhere.”
Helen Pankhurst was joined at the statue by a range of cross party MPs, who came together in support of the cause, and took “selfies” with the statue in support of #Wednesday4Women and #GreatBigGreenWeek. They all received symbolic “no more loopholes” bracelets made by members of CrackTheCrises’ partner organisation the Women’s Institute. This craft action calls on the UK government to deliver a greener, cleaner & healthier future for everyone.
CARE International’s Southern Africa Advocacy Advisor, Chikondi Chabvuta, based in Malawi, said “The climate crisis is making the fight for gender equality much harder. The world’s poorest women and girls have already seen more extreme heat and rainfall, more drought, and more powerful hurricanes. These crises are proven to increase gender-based violence, hit women’s livelihoods hardest and prevent girls from attending school. But women are also often leading the response in their communities, and their leadership needs to be recognised and supported in policies and funding agreed at COP26.”
CARE International’s UK head of Advocacy and Policy, Katherine Nightingale, explains why the climate crisis is a feminist issue: “The compounding impacts of climate change on women and girls need to be understood and needs to be centre-stage at COP26. The UK Government can do this by increasing financial support for climate action that supports gender equality, and that reaches women-led organisations responding to the climate crisis in their communities.”
Helen Pankhurst said: “We are demanding of our leaders that they do everything in their power to limit global warming and that they do so with a gendered lens - with women and girls equally represented at climate decision-making tables – especially those most impacted by the climate crisis. Around the globe, when it comes to who is represented in official Climate Action policy-making, we see a small section of men in charge. This is not good enough. Equal representation matters. It mattered in politics 100 years ago when my ancestors and Millicent Fawcett were fighting for the vote, and it matters today when it comes to an existential threat and the need for climate action.
“Women and girls care about the climate as much as men and boys, in fact many notable climate activists have been women so why do official policy makers still not get it?”
#Wednesday4Women organisers call for the UK government to use the opportunity of hosting COP26 by ensuring:
The unprecedented ambition needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Increased international financial support to communities on the frontline of the climate crisis - including women’s rights organisations - to adapt to climate change and address loss and damage
Specific targets for how the UK’s climate finance will deliver on gender equality and reach women’s organisations
Investment for a fossil fuel free future that creates green jobs, and prioritises a feminist and women’s rights perspective
Climate decision making, which is transparent, inclusive and equitable and ensures diverse women’s voices and participation, including in the UK’s COP26 team.
The open letter has so far been signed by:
Annie Lennox, founder of The Circle NGO
Helen Pankhurst, Gender Advisor, CARE International
Livia Firth, co-founder of The Circle NGOBaroness Liz Sugg, UK House of Lords
Baroness Sheehan, UK APPG on PDRH
Virendra Sharma MP
Sarah Champion MP
Laurie Lee, CEO, Care International UK
Melissa Green, General Secretary, National Federation of Women’s Institutes
Ben Margolis, Interim Director, The Climate Coalition
Alasdair Harris, Executive Director of Blue Ventures
Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, Chief Executive, Christian Aid
Anushree Rao, Director of Policy and Campaigns, Concern Worldwide (UK)
Beadie Finzi, Director, Doc Society
Carry Somers, Global Operations Director, Fashion Revolution
Catherine Pettengell, Interim Director, Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK)
Danny Sriskandarajah, CEO Oxfam GB
Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director, UK Women's Budget Group
Emma Bridge, Chief Executive, Community Energy England
Hannah Swirsky, Campaigns Coordinator, Centenary Action Group
Hilda Flavia Nakabuye, Founder Fridays for the Future, Uganda
Jean-Michel Grand, Executive Director, Action Against Hunger UK
Jessica Woodroffe, Director, Gender and Development Network
Joan, International Coordinator & Clare, Evaluation Officer, the Rise Up Movement
Jon Hallé, CEO, Sharenergy Co-op
Judy Ling Wong CBE, Honorary President, Black Environment Network
Kate Metcalf, Co-Director, Wen (Women's Environmental Network)
Kayla Ente, CEO, Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-operative
Kirsty McNeill, Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, Save the Children UK
Lisa Ashford, CEO Ethex & Energise Africa
Lucy Siegle, writer and broadcaster
Martin Cottingham, Director of External Relations and Advocacy, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Mary Gillie Director Energy Local CIC
Maysa Ismael, Director, Gender Action for Peace and Security
Michael Gidney, Chief Executive, The Fairtrade Foundation
Nigel Harris, Chief Executive, Tearfund
Rachel Hayes, Associate Director, Regen Rose Caldwell, CEO, Plan International UK
Rosie Gillam, Director, Egni Coop
Sam Bickersteth, Chief Executive, Opportunity International
Sonya Bedford MBE, Head of Energy, Stephens Scown
Stephanie Draper, Chief Executive, Bond
Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive, WaterAid UK