CLIMATE JUSTICE

As the climate emergency grows, it is estimated an additional 132 million people will be pushed into poverty by 2030 as a result of climate change.

Responding to the climate emergency

For Hello Pretty, climate justice is about realizing a future in which the poorest and most marginalized people have significantly improved their wellbeing and can enjoy their human rights through greater resilience to the climate emergency, increased equality and a global temperature rise that is limited to 1.5°C.

Our goal is that by 2030, 10 million poor and marginalized people, particularly women and girls, have strengthened their resilience and adaptive capacities to the effects of the climate emergency.

The impacts of the climate emergency on women and girls

Though the climate emergency affects all of us, it exacerbates existing inequalities, such as those caused by wealth, age, race, and gender.

People who rely on biodiversity for survival are no longer able to produce food; people who can only afford basic shelter have their homes destroyed through repeated cyclones; people who don’t have any insurance or savings must rebuild their lives from nothing after disasters.

For example, as resources diminish, women and girls often take on more domestic and care work. For instance, walking for long distances in search of water affects girls performance is school and affects their future. In the event of a disaster, women can face increased threats of violence, sexual, or economic abuse and younger girls can be sent into early or forced marriage as their families face extreme economic hardship. Women have slower economic recovery compared to men and generally experience poorer reproductive and maternal health outcomes due to food insecurity, exhaustion, heat, and waterborne diseases.

Who is responsible for the climate emergency?

The greatest responsibility for causing the climate emergency lies with the rich polluting class, and primarily in countries in the Global North. The poorest 50% of the world are responsible for less than 10% of the global CO2 emissions. The global top 1% income earners, mostly men, are responsible for more than twice as much pollution as the bottom 50% income earners.

We can counteract some of this damage through robust policies, that put equality and inclusions at the heart. These must be supported by actions that help all people to increase their ability to withstand climate related shocks and stresses, and that limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

What is Hello Pretty doing to achieve climate justice?

We believe that everyone has the right to live on a healthy planet. Hello Pretty aims to strengthen the resilience of the poorest and most marginalized people on the frontlines of the climate emergency, particularly women and girls.

Hello Pretty and our partners are well-positioned to work on these changes, due to our long-standing experience in addressing climate justice through:

  • Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Ecosystems and natural resource management
  • Gender equality

Globally, our work on climate change is to help ensure that the rights of the poorest and most vulnerable people are heard at international climate emergency negotiations and when planning and delivering projects that help people adapt and become more resilient to climate shocks. This includes helping people learn new farming techniques that help them withstand the impacts of recurring disasters. It also means securing people’s rights and access to valuable natural resources. With the right knowledge and sufficient means, people can take the necessary steps to safeguard their own lives, incomes and futures. And by strengthening women’s voices, we ensure they have a stronger say in decisions that affect their lives.