The 2023 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP28) is being held in Dubai from November 30th to December 12th. Several current and past Channel grantee partners, among others, are preparing for the conference.

COP28 provides an opportunity for multilateral decision-making on climate change and facilitates discussion among over 50,000 delegates from all around the world. It is an essential avenue for Indigenous and feminist activists around the world to share their knowledge and expertise on various climate topics and to advocate for a gender just transition.

Cultural Survival is attending with a delegation of 8 members, including Galina Angarova, Executive Director, Shaldon Ferris, Indigenous Rights Radio Coordinator, and Bryan Bixcul, Executive Coordinator. This delegation will be joining the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus and other Indigenous leaders to push “policy markers for urgent and holistic responses to climate chaos.”

International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) is attending the pre-COP28 Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus and hosting events. These events include “Funding the Future: Investing in Indigenous Women to Lead the Climate Solutions,” co-organized with Women4Biodiversity and Indigenous Women Biodiversity Network, and “Indigenous Knowledge on Regenerative, Agroecology, and Food Systems.” These events emphasize Indigenous knowledge and involvement in funding and agriculture.

International Indigenous Women’s Forum (FIMI) has organized a delegation consisting of partners, Board Members, and team members. They have organized two workshop-seminars for FIMI partners before COP28 and two events during the conference. These events include “Resilience of Indigenous Women to Loss and Damage: Good Practices and Strategies for Collaboration and Funding” co-organized with ECMIA, Mama Cash, IFAD, and the Inuit Circumpolar Council and an Indigenous Women’s Day event co-organized with the Women and Gender Constituency.

Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network, International (WECAN) is preparing to attend COP28 with a delegation consisting of Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director, Casey Camp-Horinek, Ponca Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board member, and Katherine Quaid, Communications Coordinator, among others. WECAN has organized several events during the conference, one of which, the “Press Conference – Indigenous Women from the Amazon: Calls for Urgent Action”, will highlight speakers from the Amazon and their advocacy efforts.

Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO) has organized a delegation including Bridget Burns, Executive Director, Mwanahamisi Singano, Global Policy Lead, and Katie Tobin, Senior Program Manager, among others. WEDO’s goal for this delegation is to “advocate for gender-just decisions and an overall vision of divesting from harm to invest in care.” WEDO’s four priorities are a gender-just transition away from fossil fuels, feminist climate finance, advancing gender data, and power, voice and leadership that uplift feminist voices. They are set to attend and co-organize several events surrounding these four priorities, including the “Championing Grassroots Gender Just Climate Finance” event.

Lastly, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is set to attend with a delegation of five feminist peace activists, three of which are from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Members of this delegation include Michelle Benzing, WILPF’s Environment Consultant, Katrin Geyer, WILPF’s Environment Advisor, Olla Alsakkaf, a Yemeni climate activist, Rula Asad, co-founder of Syrian Female Journalists Network, and Nesmah Mansoor Ali, a Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) expert. COP28 will include a thematic day on “health, relief, recovery and peace” which will amplify topics surrounding feminist peace and demilitarisation. WILPF and its delegation seeks to advance “advocacy goals focused on the critical role of demilitarisation in addressing climate change and destruction of the environment.”

To keep up with these organizations and their virtual and in-person events at COP28, follow their social medias: Cultural Survival Facebook, IFIP Facebook, FIMI Facebook, WECAN Facebook, WEDO Facebook and WILPF Facebook. Additionally, attend official COP28 side events virtually through the UNFCC website and YouTube.

Photos courtesy of WECAN.