Transcript ENERGIA Advocacy Activities in the Rio+20 process Gail

ENERGIA Advocacy Activities
and the Rio+20 process
Gail Karlsson
ENERGIA Senior Policy Advisor
Bridging the Gender Gap for Development Effectiveness in the Energy
Sector
13 December 2011, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ENERGIA is a leading member of the
Women’s Steering Committee for Rio+20
This grew out of ENERGIA role as an organizing partner for the Women’s
Major Group at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in 20062007 on energy and climate change.
There are official openings for participation of
Women and other “Major Groups”
Partners on the Women’s Steering Committee:
• Voices of African Mothers
• Women in Europe for a Common Future
• Women’s Environment and Development
Organization
Women from over 100 organizations have provided
input on key issues and strategies
ENERGIA has developed an innovative approach to advocacy
 explaining the links between gender and energy
 making recommendations on gender-sensitive policies, projects &
activities
Organizing steps for UN Commission on Sustainable Development
• compiled country-specific evidence and recommendations based on
national consultations with network members, energy experts,
and government officials
• brought together experts from different countries
to work in teams at meetings, with government
representatives (including on delegations)
• supported team members after the meetings
in following up on implementing
recommendations at the national level.
Strategy 1
 Building an adequate evidence base to support recommendations
Based on national consultations, network experiences, analyses of projects
ENERGIA has worked with partners to produce case studies, toolkits,
and training materials on gender
and energy.
For Rio+20, ENERGIA has provided analysis and recommendations for:
• Statements at preparatory UN meetings in New York and UN regions
• March 2011 paper A Gender Perspective on the ‘Green Economy’
• November 2011 WMG input for the UN’s “zero draft” Outcome Document
Next step for Rio+20 - compilation of successful projects and activities
as models of gender-sensitive good practices
to attract partners and funding for expansion, scaling up, replication
Strategy 2
 Increasing representation of women from developing countries
Often there are few women from
developing countries at international
meetings, either among civil society
groups or on government delegations.
Being able to obtain funding for travel
has been essential for effective team
development, lobbying and building
relationships with government
delegations.
For Rio+20 - so far there has been little money for participation
.
We expect funding for travel costs to Rio+20 to be forthcoming
under a Women’s Major Group proposal
Strategy 3
 Strengthening links with government officials and partners
Relationships with government delegations allow ENERGIA members to
-suggest language for governments to include in the negotiated texts
-follow up with their governments on integrating gender and energy in policies &
projects
For Rio+20 - We need to build on our
existing relationships with governments
to ensure that our priorities are presented
during “informal” discussions where
only governments are involved
We also need to collaborate with partners and
networks with similar interests
Results from advocacy
 Greater awareness of the links
between gender and energy issues
 Inclusion of gender-sensitive text
and recommendations in official
decisions and statements
 ENERGIA’s recommendations implemented by governments and
institutions through:
* Project guidance - at the request of governments and project managers
* Adoption of gender-sensitive policies
(including through results of gender training and audits)
 Investments in expanding energy access to provide benefits to women
including projects led by women and focused on women’s enterprises
The WMG Steering Committee prepared a
joint work plan for Rio+20
Engagement of Grassroots/Local Women:
* facilitating outreach and consultations
* supporting opportunities for participation and advocacy
Policy Recommendations and Advocacy:
* compiling and sharing inputs from diverse women’s perspectives
* drafting recommendations for action
* lobbying policymakers to push for inclusion of recommended text in the
outcome document
Best Practices:
* organizing awards for, and documentation of, grassroots and local
women’s contributions to sustainable economies,
* attracting funding and support for women’s initiatives
From Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting for Rio +20
Green energy policies must incorporate a gender perspective.
...most of the 2.5 billion people using traditional biomass for household energy live in
Africa. African women play a major role in the collection and management of biomass
fuel ...
Gender-equitable energy policies,
legislation and investments could effectively
boost women’s opportunities for economic
and social empowerment and their ability to
contribute to the green economy.
We call upon Africa Governments to
implement programmes that directly
support women’s access to affordable
off-grid energy technologies, as well as
connections to grid.
From Women’s Input for Zero Draft of Outcome Document
Promotion of clean renewable energy technologies and phasing out of
unsustainable energy
....Investments in access to modern energy are needed for improved
livelihoods, education, health services, water and sanitation, education, and
transportation.
Women need increased access to cleaner, more efficient energy sources
and technologies for household use and productive activities,
as well as training and education for business development - including
designing, producing, marketing and managing new energy products and
services....
Rio+20 Process
Timeline
 2nd Rio+20 Intersessional
(15 - 16 Dec 2011)
• Review of inputs from
stakeholders
• Basis for zero-draft of
outcome document
Official Preparatory Process
2011
2012
February 28 - 4 March
CSD Intergovernmental
preparatory meeting
January 16 - 18
Meeting to discuss Zero
Draft Document to be
convened, UN, New York
March 7 - 8
2nd Preparatory
Committee Meeting
October - December
Regional Preparatory
meetings
December 15 - 16
Second Intersessional
Meeting
February 13 - 17
First informal negotiating
week on Zero Draft,
UN, New York
March 26 - 27
3rd Intersessional Meeting
June 13 - 15
Final Preparatory
Committee Meeting
20 - 22 June 2012
RIO + 20 UN Conference on Sustainable
Development
Sources for Rio+20 Information and Participation
Official UN site for the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development
www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/
Women's Major Group web page on official UN site
www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=104
Women on the Road to Rio+20 - WEDO interactive info & discussion site
http://women-rio20.ning.com/
CSD Women’s Major Group Email List
http://csd-women.groupsite.com/join
Join Rio+20 Steering Committee ..........